Jens Lehmann: Life at Highbury
By Michael Lynch
January 21 2004
Jens Lehmann has commented on how he is finding life at Highbury so far. The 33 year-old keeper has commented on his ambitions and past too.
"In my life as a footballer, I've always acted in such a way -- and I was brought up that way -- that when someone attacks me I have to defend myself," he told Reuters, leaning back in a large leather sofa at Arsenal's state-of-the-art training ground at London Colney, a few kilometres north of their Highbury home.
"Unfortunately as a goalkeeper I have the disadvantage that I can't run after another player and maybe push him or something without someone noticing.
"As a goalkeeper I am always the target of attacks rather than attacking someone myself."
But apart from one short burst of temper against Southampton's Kevin Phillips, and conceding a couple of soft goals, Lehmann has made a great start to his Arsenal career.
This is his his second attempt at living and playing abroad and hopes it will be more successful, not least because this time his wife Conny and sons Mats and Lasse have joined him.
"Arsenal was attractive because of the possibility of playing in the Champions League, and then there's my family.
"The children can learn English and we can learn English, too, those are opportunities you don't get that easily in life," the 34-year-old Lehmann said.
He then commented on Arsenal's style of play:
"The game is faster here, technically very challenging and physically more robust, it's more aggressive.
"The standard is higher than in Germany -- there are three English clubs in the Champions' League."
"They are with you with heart and soul," he said when asked about the Gunners' fans.
Jens' ambitions:
"Whether you take part or not depends on yourself. Well, the coach is the one who selects you, but it's in the hands of each individual what he achieves in life or, in my case, in football life."
"Here in England I'm not an old goalkeeper and I think I can be confident based on my performance. In Germany, at my age you're considered an old player," he said
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