JENS GONE ON FRI

augie · Post by **augie** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:33 pm

Have to agree that sometimes the word legend gets bandied about too easily but Mad Jens is def my favourite Arsenal keeper since big pat jennings and is as near to being classed as a legend as any. As well as always being a big game keeper I also felt that when he was in the team he provided the "dont fcuk with us" attitude that has been sorely missed since the departuresm of PV4 & Keown.

I accept that some of you here are ready to knock jens and that is fine but do not blame him for what happened in the champs lge final in paris - he was badly exposed and came out to cover his team-mates and got there slightly too late and paid the ultimate price. I felt more sorry for jens & bob than any other player that night(along with DB10 of course) and both contributed hugely to the run to the final. If you are looking for someone to blame then look no further than our current no.1 who couldnt block sheep that night but who some of you now believe is good enough to play international football

Bring Back Pires · Post by **Bring Back Pires** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 9:49 pm

When people ask me to select my all-time Arsenal XI, Lehmann always makes the cut. I honestly believe that on his best day, he's better than Seaman was on his best day. I've not seen the likes of Jennings, so can't comment as it relates to the old school.

It didn't take long for me to warm to Lehmann - his 'moving target' penalty technique in his debut (the 2003 Community Shield) was quality. Scholes looked at the referee, the referee looked back at Scholes, and Lehmann just shrugged his shoulders. That's comedy folks!

I first saw an interview with him about half-way through the 2003/04 season, where much to my surprise, he was very soft spoken, thoughtful and intelligent. Just the kind of player I welcome at the club. He won his first league title at the club without losing a single game in the process.

Career highlights include saving Scholes' penalty in the 2005 FA Cup Final, saving Riquelme's penalty in the Champions League semi-final, throwing the ball against the advertising boards at the Emirates to deliberately waste time, somersaults at the start of the second halves at Highbury, and justifiably moaning at referees for being assaulted by strikers during set-pieces.

It's a shame his career has ended with him on the bench, as he's a fantastic 'keeper (yes, even despite a whopping TWO mistakes at the start of the season), and if it weren't for the impressive form of Almunia, he'd surely still be playing.

I wish him all the best back at Borussia Dortmund.

Post by **Belfast Boy** » Thu Jan 03, 2008 11:54 pm

rebel gooner wrote: I better slow down

Whaaaaaaa, give it a rest Rebel will ya, you're always sayin that, just admit it - you're an addict

I'd also like to go on the record for our big mental German, for me a definate legend, and I actually fail to see how anyone can say otherwise

not just for the numerous reasons already highlighted like his record breaking clean sheet run on our way to the CL final and for bein part of the Invincibles but also for his no-one likes me/us but fuck 'em attitude which is synonomous with Arsenal anyway and the example he set to the young uns in having his own set of keys for London Colney as he was always the first one in and often the last one to leave!

We were talkin earlier how an Arsenal keeper needs excellent levels of concentration, well again in that respect Jens was up there with the best of them, and some of his saves were incredible, the one he made from Solskejar at the death to secure the points against ManUre last season even had the player himself gaspin in disbelief and clearly caught on camera mouthin the words to his teamates "how the fuck did he get that"???

My own particular fond memory of him was the night we were sittin in the North Bank watchin the players warm up and one of the lads was bangin in crosses for Big Jens to come for but on one instead of comin for it he was already on the penalty spot a did an unbelievable, perfectly executed overhead bicycle kick right in to the top corner of the tent rippling the net as it went in

that takes some balls to do that in front of a nearly full North Bank during a warm up, especially for a keeper and a big one at that, the sight of it absolutely blew me and my mate away and I'm glad he was there to see it otherwise I'd have doubted it myself - anyway thanks for the memories big man and as I said before if you are under any doubt about whether you'll be remembered as a legend, you'll know by the reception you receive upon your return

Post by **I Hate Hleb** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 2:13 am

LEHMAN DEFINATELY SOURED HIS RELATIONSHIP WITH SOME ARSENAL FANS BY HIS PETULENT ATTITUDE AFTER BEING RESTED/DROPPED. THERE WAS NO NEED FOR SOME OF THE THINGS HE HAS SAID AND HE WAS AT IT AGAIN YESTERDAY CLAIMING WENGER JUDGED ALMUNIA TO A DIFFERENT STANDARD TO THAT WHICH WENGER JUDGED HIM.

DESPITE ALL THAT, AND THE FACT THAT HE FRUSTRATED THE FECK OUT OF ME WITH SOME OF HIS ANTICS, I DON'T THINK ANYONE CAN DENY THAT HE HAS EARNT HIS LEGENDARY STATUS FOR HIS CONTRIBUTION TO THE UNBEATEN SEASON AND THE RECORD-BREAKING CHAMPIONS LEAGUE RUN.

IN MY OPINION LEHMAN WASN'T QUITE AS GOOD AS SEAMAN OR JENNINGS, BUT HE WAS AN EXCELLENT GOAL-KEEPER FOR ARSENAL NONETHELESS. WE SHOULD ALL WISH HIM WELL.

RaM · Post by **RaM** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:13 am

Definitely has to have some sort of legend status. Not only was he a brilliant keeper, but his personality and antics provided more entertainment than some of our opposition did!!

Sad as it is to see him go, it is time.

aw · Post by aw » Fri Jan 04, 2008 4:56 am

augie wrote:Have to agree that sometimes the word legend gets bandied about too easily but Mad Jens is def my favourite Arsenal keeper since big pat jennings and is as near to being classed as a legend as any. As well as always being a big game keeper I also felt that when he was in the team he provided the "dont fcuk with us" attitude that has been sorely missed since the departuresm of PV4 & Keown.

I accept that some of you here are ready to knock jens and that is fine but do not blame him for what happened in the champs lge final in paris - he was badly exposed and came out to cover his team-mates and got there slightly too late and paid the ultimate price. I felt more sorry for jens & bob than any other player that night(along with DB10 of course) and both contributed hugely to the run to the final. If you are looking for someone to blame then look no further than our current no.1 who couldn't block sheep that night but who some of you now believe is good enough to play international football

I agree with most of what you say, but Almunia has had a run of 4 or 5 good games now! So maybe he can develop.

Anyhow good luck Jens!! Legend or not!

Post by **SPUDMASHER** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 8:05 am

Sorry, I'm not 'avin it. Lehman is NOT a legend. He is a good player that has passed through the club during his career just like David Platt, Paul Mariner and the like. Great players for us, but legends NO.

donaldo · Post by **donaldo** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:48 am

I think playing in goal in 49 unbeaten league games makes him a legend.I believe every player that played in the 2003-04 season is a legend.No other team has achieved that feat and probably never will again.

I will miss Mad Jen. Thanks for the memories

Post by **REB** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:58 am

donaldo wrote:I think playing in goal in 49 unbeaten league games makes him a legend.I believe every player that played in the 2003-04 season is a legend.No other team has achieved that feat and probably never will again.

I will miss Mad Jen. Thanks for the memories

have to agree,, if he wasnt in goal for that season everygame then no i would class him as just a good player for us but he was, and as for the cl final , just remember who's big saves got us there , remember the penalty v villareal and the save from raul

Post by **SPUDMASHER** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:03 am

God my head hurts this morning

Of course Paula is an Arsenal Legend. She's as qualified to be one as Jens

TheOne2Smooth · Post by **TheOne2Smooth** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:36 am

RaM wrote:Definitely has to have some sort of legend status. Not only was he a brilliant keeper, but his personality and antics provided more entertainment than some of our opposition did!!

Sad as it is to see him go, it is time.

The best was the time wasting against wigan last year comedy gold
see youtube clip below

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0opEuuSUUbQ

Post by **REB** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 9:58 pm

seems he might be staying, wenger says he will be playing in the cup on sunday

Bring Back Pires · Post by **Bring Back Pires** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 10:26 pm

SPUDMASHER wrote:Sorry, I'm not 'avin it. Lehman is NOT a legend. He is a good player that has passed through the club during his career just like David Platt, Paul Mariner and the like. Great players for us, but legends NO.

Well, Lehmann saved us a penalty that won us the FA Cup, saved a penalty that secured us a place in the Champions League final, and played every league game in the unbeatables season.

At any other club, he'd probably be the greatest player of all time. At Arsenal, he's not, but still a bonafide legend nonetheless.

David Platt was reasonable, but never did anything ground-breaking, and only transformed a match on one occasion.

The more I think about it, i'm sure your post was designed to encourage this type of reaction, so hopefully you're happy now!

stats · Post by **stats** » Fri Jan 04, 2008 11:57 pm

Lehmann to me is a legend, look at the ammount of trouble he has got of out of with his fine saves such as the pens saves against Villarreal & Utd which will go down in Arsenal's history books

Fine he messed up at the start of the season but every keeper does & this is why i sometimes get worried over Blondie but i'm sure this game will give him the chance to shine for a little bit again & hopefulley he may end his time with us at the end of the season insted

He is mad & crazy but thats a prefect example of a goalkeeper in which we have & with his experience he can add to the team a little bit but if he does go after Sunday the oldest player would be a man who can't play for ua & will soon have to go back to the USA soon

I pat him on the back because he has done well for himself winning the cup & league (unbeaten) in which we do thank him for that & as well as him replaceing Seaman, a very hard thing to do

Jens you may not have left yet but thank you for your time ere

RaM · Post by **RaM** » Sat Jan 05, 2008 11:37 am

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0opEuuSUUbQ

Yeah one of my favourites from Mad Jens...remember having to stifle laughter in the early hours of the morning watching that.