By Boris Mellor
December 6 2004

Bob Wilson believes that Lehmann will remain on the bench for the Rosenborg game, and that if Wenger intended to play him on Tuesday he would have played him on Saturday.

 If Wilson is right, then it also means that Almunia will play against Chelsea this coming Sunday. If that is the case Almunia will need to lose his match nerves and butter fingers.

 

Lehmann is becoming a mystery in all this, has Wenger decided he is to blame for the dead ball situation, that he is undermining the collective spirit? Jens has certainly been flapping at corners, which is where Almunia looks stronger. But Jens is a better shot stopper than Almunia, but perhaps Arsene prefers peace and quiet in the defence rather than brilliance. Seaman was always a percentage player (read Safe hands); he tried to prevent situations rather than make the spectacular save, even though he made his share of those.

 

Therefore, Arsenal enter the Rosenborg game with some areas of uncertainty, important goalkeeping, defence and midfield decisions will have to be made. If Cygan was fit Kolo could be moved to right back, but it will probably be Hoyte who will play there. That then leaves the question of who partners Fabregasc, the most likely answer is Flamini.

 

Such uncertainties are not the best preparation for such an important game but fortunately, we are facing Rosenborg (not Real Madrid) who have not won away for four years. If we have to play a weakened team this is the best time to have to do it. Captain Henry will be keen to do well, and as long as a weakened midfield can get the ball to the forwards there should be plenty of goals. There is not a lot of point in Rosenborg playing for a draw, but they have so little chance of qualifying for anything (not even the UEFA vase) that they might consider a draw a considerable scalp in itself. However if they want to have go then it could be ideal.