Retired Lehmann could be set for Arsenal comeback

Former German international goalkeeper Jens Lehmann could be in line for a shock short-term comeback on the bench at Arsenal, to help ease their problems in goal, it was reported today.

The 41-year-old retired from football in 2010, but is back in north London to work with the Gunners' young goalkeepers, just as the Premier League title chasers have a growing problem in the Number One position.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has had to revert to former first choice Manuel Almunia as both Lukasz Fabianski and Wojciech Szczesny are injured and Lehmann is spending six weeks at Arsenal to complete his coaching badges.

Lehmann could be a short-term option for Wenger with Szczesny expected to return in six weeks from a finger injury and the German refused to rule out a possible return.

"I am in London and so far have heard nothing of such plans, but you never know," he told German newspaper Bild on Sunday.

Szczesny dislocated his finger in last week's Champions League defeat to Barcelona while Wenger has said the Gunners need experienced back up for Almunia and is weighing up his options.

Almunia performed well when he replaced Szczesny during the match with Barcelona but hardly improved his standing at the club when he criticised the attitude of some of the Arsenal players the day after the match.

Lehmann, who won 61 caps for Germany, played for Arsenal between 2003 and 2008 before he moved back to the Bundesliga for his final two seasons with VfB Stuttgart and retired in 2010.