Lehmann blow for Gunners

Arsenal goalkeeper ruled out for fortnight

By Rob Parrish   Last updated: 23rd August 2007   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Lehmann blow for Gunners

Lehmann: Achilles injury

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Jens Lehmann is facing at least two weeks on the sidelines with an Achilles injury.

The Arsenal goalkeeper, who has made a series of high-profile errors in the opening weeks of the season, aggravated an existing problem in Germany's 2-1 victory over England at Wembley.

Arsene Wenger will now be without his first-choice goalkeeper for Saturday's Premier League clash with leaders Manchester City.

Lehmann will also miss the second leg of the Gunners' UEFA Champions League qualifier against Sparta Prague at Emirates Stadium and the home clash with Portsmouth on 2nd September.

Wenger said: "Jens is out and he will miss two weeks, I think. Maybe more. I don't know.

"He is going to see a specialist in Germany. He had this injury before but it has got much worse."

The veteran shot-stopper gifted David Healy a quickfire opener in Arsenal's 2-1 win over Fulham on the opening weekend, and was again at fault as he allowed David Dunn's shot to slip through his hands in the draw at Blackburn.

Lehmann also looked shaky at times during the Wembley victory, but England failed to take advantage, with Michael Owen particularly culpable.

Wenger will now turn to Manuel Almunia in Lehmann's absence, with summer signing Lukasz Fabianski acting as back-up.