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Lehmann's Arsenal future set to be resolved

Society Materials 7 January 2008 07:11 (UTC +04:00)

(AFP) - Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann's future with the Premier League leaders is set to be decided within days, according to Gunners boss Arsene Wenger.

The temperamental German international made the most of a rare start in a season where he has spent much of the time behind Manuel Almunia to keep a clean sheet as Arsenal advanced into the fourth round of the FA Cup with a 2-0 win away to Championship side Burnley.

Lehmann has been linked with a transfer window return to Germany with Borussia Dortmund and his current manager admitted he was still uncertain over the veteran's future with the north London giants.

Wenger said: "Lehmann gave a faultless performance and he performed in a 100 percent professional way. Will he leave? My wish is that he stays, but we will know the outcome in the next few days."

The Frenchman added his side were given a scare by Burnley after goals from Eduardo and Nicklas Bendtner at Turf Moor secured Arsenal's place in Monday's fourth round draw.

Burnley, struggling to climb from their mid-table status in the second tier, gave Arsenal a severe test of their ability even after the 60th minute dismissal of midfielder Kyle Lafferty.

And Wenger conceded Burnley's performance was a surprise that could have turned out much worse for the 10-times FA Cup winners.

" Burnley played well and they had a big moment when they missed early chance with the header that hit the bar," said the Gunners boss.

"It would have played a big part in the game if it had gone in because, at 1-0 down against Burnley in the manner that they played, it would have been difficult for us.

"Even when we took our chance, Burnley pushed again and we missed another chance, but they deserve credit for the way that they played. They gave everything, they played at a high pace and they played in a fair way.

"I'm surprised that they are where they are in the Championship. That division must be a tough league and I think we are much better off in the Premier League!

"But it was a good test for the young players. What surprised me was the way that Burnley threw players forward and really tried to take the game to us.

"I have a squad and I am not scared to use it, though, even in the Premiership. At Everton last week, I used Eduardo and Bendtner, but we also had (Kolo) Toure, Lehmann and (Emmanuel) Eboue here. They are all top Premiership players, so there would have been no excuses."

Defeat leaves Burnley to concentrate solely on securing a play-off spot in the Championship, but manager Owen Coyle admitted he was heartened by Wenger's praise for his team.

"Arsene Wenger came up to me after the game and he said that 'We got lucky,' so I take that as a compliment.

"There is no doubting Arsenal's quality, but we missed a big chance early in the game and, once we had Kyle sent off, ten men against Arsenal's eleven was always going to be very difficult."

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