Lehman said "goodbay" to Arsenal

The german goalkeeper left Emirates Stadium on Sunday with tears in his eyes and a smile on his face.

Before kick-off, Arsène Wenger had said the 38-year-old was "99 per cent" likely to leave at the end of his contract in the summer. Therefore the manager afforded his German keeper the luxury of a 20-minute appearance at the end of the 1-0 win over Everton.

At full time captain William Gallas convinced the former Dortmund stopper to make his own personal farewell. He then joined the rest of the side in a more general thank you to the fans.

Lehmann's name was sung the loudest, proof that his five years had been memorable.

"I had one or two tears in my eyes," he said afterwards. "It was a great farewell for me. This farewell will always stay in my heart.

"The boss told me before that he planned to get me on. It was a very warm welcome on the pitch and I was very fortunate because the team didn't let me down before, just in case it had been 3-0 or 2-0 for Everton, it would have been a different reception."

So how does Lehmann look back on the Arsenal experience?

"It was the right decision from the start to the end, to come here," he said. "Not only in terms of football but as well for my family. My children now are talking, are speaking better English than German, and they don't want to go back.

"My wife and myself, we learnt the language quite well and we learnt about another way of life. A very respectful, very kind way and that's a little bit different to Germany. There are a lot of similarities between English and German people but there are some differences as well.

"As for the football I was part of a team which was playing probably the most attractive game. It was really good.

"In the first two years we won something, unfortunately in the third year we were very close to winning the Champions League, but failed in the end.

"My biggest memory was probably the Real Madrid game at home, when we played 0-0. Then of course the FA Cup Final and then there was the game we became champions at Tottenham.

"I was together with Sol Campbell we were the only players who felt disappointed in the dressing-room because we didn't know we were champions by this time. We had conceded a goal just at the end and it finished 2-2. That was a very, very emotional moment for me.

"But, I said before, there are more memories than only just playing, there is the reception of the supporters. The respectful kindness of the supporters."

And that is what Lehmann saw for one last time on Sunday.

Arsenal have prepared for penalties!

Arsene Wenger has primed his side for penalties ahead of Tuesday night's Champions League Quarter-Final second leg at Anfield and says that, should the game go to spot-kicks, it will be a battle of nerves.

The last three games between Arsenal and Liverpool finished draw 1-1, so everyone expected that today night, the result will be the same. The last two games between the two teams was in the last 5 days, the fisrt one was for Champions league at Emirates stadium, the second one was for Premiere league at the same stadium. In this games Arsenal was the better team but cant won the game. We hope that today our favourite team will triumph at Anfield.

Meanwhile Arsene Wenger said that, if arsenal win in Sunday clash against Manchester United at Old Trafford, will save the chance to win the title, this will be very hard match for the young gunners, because the Red Devils will play only for a win, and in this moment they are in great form, but the football is one of the best games in the world, because everything can happend.

Today is the big game!

Today is one of the most importnat games of the season for Arsenal, they will meet Liverpool in the first leg of quarter finals of Champions League at Emirates Stadium. The two teams will play for one week three games two for European Champions league and one for Premiere League. The two English clubs defeat two Italian in the previous round, Arsenal defeat AC Milan, and Liverpool beat Milan's rivals Inter, now is the time of truth, because both teams want to win this year Cup. Arsenal also have chances to win the dosmetic cup, after sturday dramatic away win against Bolton Wonderers, the gunners played almost 60 minutes with 10 people after the red card shown to Diaby for dangerous foul, and bolton had the lead at half time with goals, but the second half, arsenal managed to score 3 goals(Gallas, Van Persie and Fabregas) and win the game wth 3-2 with fabrega's goal in the last minute of the match. Yestreday Man utd win in Rome with goals and almost qualify for the semi finals, where they will face the winner between Barcelona and Schalke 04, which finished with one goal win for Barca at Germany. All we the fans of Arsenal hoppe that today will beat Liverpool with big difference. Good luck Gunners!!!

We must win games before we dream of title!

After Sunday defeat from london rivals Chelsea with 2-1, two goals scored by african star Drogba, arsenal lost the chances for the title. Arsene Wenger gave interview in the official site Arsenal.com:

On the repercusations of this defeat...
"It is a big setback for us when you add the four games we drew and today's loss. Now we just have to come back and win games before we dream of the title."

On the game itself...
"It was a game we should have won, but we paid for some lapses in concentration. It is difficult to swallow because we played quite well and were in control of the game. What was left to Chelsea was to play long balls, and we did not deal well enough with it."

On the reasons for the defeat...
"The spirit was right and the mentality was fantastic, over all the team played very well but at the moment, I feel we have some defensive problems which we need to sort out. We got caught on the long balls and the physical battle. But we were a bit unlucky because the first goal was offside and it was also a foul from Terry before that. That has a big impact in the game, and recently we have been badly done by things like that."

On the opportunity missed...
"I don't worry about Chelsea. I worry about Arsenal and the way we play the game. We were 1-0 up and had it all in our hands. We needed a bit more defensive authority as the game was there to be taken. We had plenty of chances on the counter-attack when they went 4-4-2. It was just a matter of time to score the second goal. We were not serene enough defensively."

On disappointment...
"I feel the sprit in the team is fantastic. Today the players will be very disappointed because they gave everything but we go home without any points. That is why we have to show our strength. I believe we have the strength, but at the moment we are six points behind Manchester United. We have first to win our next game before we talk about the title. I do not believe that we had any confidence problem today."

On losing the lead...
"I feel the team got a big blow when we went 2-1 down and then lost a bit of patience in the build-up. We wanted to go too much through the middle instead of going wide."

On the ankle injury to Bacary Sagna ...
"I don't know how bad it is. But it was also a disturbance to lose him at such an important moment of the game."

Clichy - Liverpool trilogy will be a "great challenge"

Gael Clichy would rather have avoided an English team in the Quarter-Finals of the Champions League - but not because he fears Liverpool.

The French left-back agrees with Arsène Wenger's view that continental opponents bring a more authentic feel to the competition. However, Clichy is confident that Arsenal can prevail even if they need to beat Liverpool, Chelsea and Manchester United to taste European glory. The team must play also with this three teams in Premiere League, the first match is in Sunday at Stamford Bridge against Chelsea. We all hope that will be the first win after the last draw mathces.

Gallas - Why we shouldn't fear any team

Williams Gallas insists Liverpool will hold no fear for Arsenal when the clubs meet in the Champions League Quarter-Final.

The Club captain issued his rallying call after Friday’s draw pitted the two Premier League giants against each other.

Despite a recently floundering domestic campaign, Arsenal’s defeat of AC Milan in the last 16 of the Champions League has made many across Europe wary of Arsène Wenger’s men. Gallas is not surprised.

Champions league next round

Arsenal London will face another english club in the quarter finals in Champions League, Liverpool is the opponent. Arsenal advanced to the Quarter-Finals with a 2-0 aggregate victory against the defending champions, AC Milan. Liverpool reached the last eight with a 3-0 aggregate win over Inter Milan. The first match will be played on wednesday, 2 April at Emirates Stadium, the second one at Anfield on Tuesday, April 8. The winner between the two teams will meet at Semi finals the winner from Fenerbahce or another london team, Chelsea.

Champion League draw:

Quarter-Finals:

Arsenal v Liverpool
Roma v Manchester United
Schalke v Barcelona
Fenerbahce v Chelsea

Semi-Finals:

Arsenal or Liverpool v Fenerbahce or Chelsea
Schalke or Barcelona v Roma or Manchester United