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Golden oldie Jens Lehmann made a dramatic return to help rekindle Arsenal’s title hopes.
Lehmann, 41, made his first Arsenal appearance in three years as a late replacement for the injured Manuel Almunia.
And the German produced a typically eventful 90 minutes as the Gunners narrowed the gap on leaders Manchester United with their first win in six games.
Arsenal trail United by seven points, with a game in hand and are still to host the leaders at the Emirates.
Arsenal trail United by seven points, with a game in hand and are still to host the leaders at the Emirates.
Lehmann, who might have been sent off for a challenge on DJ Campbell, will become Arsenal’s oldest player if he faces Liverpool next Sunday.
He said: “I didn’t expect it to happen, but sometimes life is about surprises and that’s what happened to me. You never know what’s coming.
“I love playing football and when you finish it becomes a little bit boring because you don’t have this adrenaline any more. That’s what came back after this game and I’m quite happy about that.
“I don’t know if I should have been sent off. The rules sometimes change and I don’t know if I touched him.
“I don’t care if I don’t play in the next game. If that was my final game ever I’m pleased because we won. Let’s just see what happens. I was pleased with my reception from the fans and they haven’t forgotten me.”
Striker Robin Van Persie, who bagged Arsenal’s third, claims he would have gone in goal if Lehmann had been dismissed - there was no substitute keeper on the bench.
“I’m a good goalkeeper, I’m serious!“ said van Persie. “We needed this win, so we are very pleased. I believe we have turned the corner. We have seven games to play and it’s up to us now.”
“I’m a good goalkeeper, I’m serious!“ said van Persie. “We needed this win, so we are very pleased. I believe we have turned the corner. We have seven games to play and it’s up to us now.”
Wenger brought Lehmann out of retirement in Germany to solve his goalkeeping crisis and says he had no qualms about throwing him into action against Blackpool.
“I wasn’t concerned because I replaced a good goalkeeper with a good goalkeeper,” said the Arsenal boss. “He did well. His decision making was spot on, but he didn’t have a lot to do in fairness because we controlled the game quite well.
“His commanding, his organising, his authority were all good and he was exceptionally good at set pieces. I don’t know if he will play in the next game and we will have to assess Almunia’s knee problem.”
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