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LEHMANN NETTED BY GUNNERS
Saturday 26th July 2003

Lehmann: Gunners new boy
  Lehmann: Gunners new boy
 
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Arsene Wenger has hailed Borussia Dortmund goalkeeper Jens Lehmann as "a great signing" for Arsenal after wrapping up a deal for the 33-year-old Germany international.

Wenger has been searching for a replacement for David Seaman following his departure to Manchester City.

And, after being linked with a long list of keepers, he has opted for Lehmann because he is "used to playing under big pressure".

Wenger revealed he had clinched the deal after the Gunners' 2-0 pre-season friendly win over Austria Vienna tonight, secured by first-half goals from Dennis Bergkamp and Francis Jeffers.

Lehmann passed a medical to clinch a move to Highbury and Wenger told Arsenal's website: "Jens Lehmann is a great signing for Arsenal Football Club.

"He is a very experienced goalkeeper who has proved his quality playing in the Bundesliga, in the Champions League and also for his country.

"Jens will greatly improve the strength of our squad and I am very happy that we have signed a player of his ability.

"Today's medical was positive so that mean's he can join us [in Austria] on Sunday. I am pleased because he is used to playing under big pressure, he is intelligent and we got him at the right price.

"If you look at the side we had out against Austria Vienna, add the French players who are not back yet and then Lehmann, we are competitive again," insisted Wenger.

After completing his move to the Gunners, Lehmann said: "I am delighted to be joining Arsenal. They are one of Europe's great clubs and they have many fantastic players.

"Hopefully I will impress the club and its supporters and I'm also very much looking forward to playing in the English Premier League."

Lehmann, 33, who won the German league title with Dortmund in 2002, was also a member of the Germany World Cup squads in 1998 and 2002, in addition to their Euro 2000 squad.

He made a combined total of nearly 400 appearances for FC Schalke 04 and Borussia Dortmund.
During his time with these clubs, he made over 50 appearances in European competitions, winning the UEFA Cup with Schalke in 1997 and finishing a runner-up in the same competition with Dortmund in 2002.

Lehmann has some experience of Highbury, as he played against Arsenal in last season's UEFA Champions League, appearing in both matches in the first group stage of the competition.

The Gunners had been linked with moves for Turkey international Rustu Recber, who opted for Barcelona, Leeds' Paul Robinson and Valencia's Santiago Canizares.


  
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