Lehmann to answer Wenger call

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann is set to return to the club, coming out of retirement to fill the void between the posts.

Manager Arsene Wenger has just one fit goalkeeper at his disposal in Manuel Almunia, with fellow shot-stoppers Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski injured and Vito Mannone on loan to Hull.

The Londoners are well and truly alive in the battle for the English Premier League title, trailing leaders Manchester United by three points with a game in hand, and Wenger has called upon the 41-year-old ex-Germany international to bring an experienced and reliable head to lead their defence.

Lehmann said he could not resist another chance at a Premier League title when offered the short-term job, despite not having graced the field in a competitive match since May 2010 when with Stuttgart in the Bundesliga.

“I know this Arsenal team and I am sure we can go on and win the title. If I can play a part in that, so much the better,” he said.

“It never crossed my mind that I might end up saving it (Arsenal’s goalkeeper crisis). But when they asked me, I was more than happy to oblige.”

“It was just over the last few days that they contacted me to see if I could help out for the rest of the season and I agreed straight away.”

Lehmann’s well-publicised spat with Almunia back in 2007 will be Wenger’s first point of business in bringing the veteran back to the club, with the German then vocal in his displeasure at being dropped for the Spaniard.

Wenger will no doubt be keen to patch up any differences the two still share as he pursues his first trophy since winning the FA Cup in 2005.