MX23RW : Friday, April 19 14:30:38| >> :60:1654:1654:

Robert Pires, Gilberto Silva back Jens Lehmann's return to Arsenal

Former Arsenal players Robert Pires and Gilberto Silva hail the decision to bring Jens Lehmann back to the club as a first-team coach.

Two members of Arsenal's 'Invincibles' team have backed Jens Lehmann to have a positive impact on the club following his return as a first-team coach.

Lehmann will work with the club's goalkeepers having been brought in by Arsene Wenger as a member of the backroom staff, six years after retiring from playing in 2011.

Robert Pires and Gilberto Silva both played alongside Lehmann during their time in North London, memorably helping the club to an unbeaten Premier League campaign in 2003-04, and they believe that the former Germany international will be a valuable addition.

"It is good news. I'm very pleased for Jens, he's a good guy and a good professional. He can help the goalkeepers but not only them, the rest of the squad as well," Pires told Sky Sports News.

"You need to have a competitive side and Jens has always had that. He's a great professional. He's a German too, so he has his own rules. Sometimes he is very strict, but you need to have discipline in the dressing room and Jens is the man to bring that."

Gilberto added: "I am very pleased for Jens and for the club. He is a very professional person and a guy who is passionate for the game. I am sure it will be very important for the club to have him around because he is the kind of person who pushes the other guys when he sees something that is not right. The way he does things is in a very positive way.

"Maybe sometimes people saw him do things in the past and had a different interpretation of things but the way he was with us, sometimes we laughed. But in the end, we knew he was doing it for the benefit of the team. Sometimes you must have someone like this."

Arsenal will kick off the new Premier League season at home to Leicester City on August 11.

ID:303465: cacheID:303465:1false2false3false:QQ:: from db desktop :LenBod:restore:2927:
Restore Data
Share this article now:
Kanu of Arsenal scores a goal during the Carling Cup fourth round match between Arsenal and Wolverhampton Wanderers at Highbury on December 2, 2003
Read Next:
Kanu in embarrassing blunder during charity match
>
rhs 2.0
Today's games header
Tables header RHS
TeamPWDLFAGDPTS
1Manchester CityMan City32227376324473
2Arsenal32225575264971
3Liverpool32218372314171
4Aston Villa33196868491963
5Tottenham HotspurSpurs32186865491660
6Newcastle UnitedNewcastle321551269521750
7Manchester UnitedMan Utd32155124748-150
8West Ham UnitedWest Ham33139115258-648
9Chelsea31138106152947
10Brighton & Hove AlbionBrighton321111105250244
11Wolverhampton WanderersWolves32127134651-543
12Fulham33126154951-242
13Bournemouth32119124757-1042
14Crystal Palace3289153754-1733
15Brentford3388174758-1132
16Everton3298153248-1627
17Nottingham ForestNott'm Forest3379174258-1626
18Luton TownLuton3367204670-2425
19Burnley3348213368-3520
20Sheffield UnitedSheff Utd3237223084-5416


Sports Mole provides in-depth previews and predictions for every match from the biggest leagues and competitions in world football.
Argentina's Lionel Messi kisses the World Cup trophy after collecting the Golden Ball award on December 18, 2022Sign up for our FREE daily preview newsletter direct to your inbox!