FOOTBALL CLUB WORLD

Manuel Almunia is the first goalkeeper at Arsenal, but now he is a major doubt for the home game with Reading. That could mean the experienced Lehmann might have a chance to return to the first team.

In fact, further complications to the Spaniard’s wrist complaint, which kept him out of the defeat at Manchester United last weekend, could open the door for Lehmann’s farewell match at the Emirates Stadium since his departure in the summer is almost a fore-gone conclusion after being benched for most of the season.

"Maybe Manuel Almunia will be available, I just don't know," Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger stated. "I will make a decision on Friday morning. He got injured in training on the Friday before Manchester United. It's important to say that we sent him for a scan and there was an inflammation so he could not take part of the game."

Tomas Rosicky, the talented Czech Republic player, has been out of action since January with a knee problem, and when asked about how long he will remain sidelined for, he admitted he has no idea.

"In fact, it is still the same, there is no prospect, I don't know for the present,” said Rosicky. “I have missed football badly. I have never had such a long break. Not even when I broke my arm as I could take part of the game afterwards with a bandage.

"I take it as this simply is a part of this sport, and strong individuals must cope with it. And I will cope with it. It will not stop me nor break me down. However, I have realised how much I love football" he concluded.

The talented Eduardo Da Silva said the quick work of physio Gary Lewin after he had broken his leg against Birmingham City last week could have saved his career.

As we know, Eduardo suffered a terrible fractured left fibula and an open dislocation of his ankle joint after a tackle by Birmingham City defender Martin Taylor.

The Croatian player is likely to be out for nine months but Arsenal expect him to make a full recovery. "The injury was so grave I could have lost my foot," he expressed. "So I will always be grateful to Gary for what he did in lowering the risk to my leg. That was decisive. I do not remember too much about the blow."

"In fact, I just remember the pain, seeing that my foot had rotated, but I only recaptured my senses in hospital."

According to the media, Eduardo was visited in hospital by Taylor and has accepted his apologies for the tackle which has ruled him out of the Euro 2008 tournament in June.

"And all I could do was look at his face I was totally pre-occupied," said Eduardo.
"I wanted to believe what Taylor said and to think that what happened was just an unfortunate accident."

"I really had to look at him. I could not understand how anyone could make a tackle like that in only the third minute of a match. But in the end I believed that Taylor was being honest and I accepted his excuses."

The young player said not being able to represent Croatia in Euro 2008 was "the worst blow" but he was heartened by the many messages of support from his club and international team mates.

"I will miss Arsenal's race for the title and the Champions League campaign but, most of all, my first European Championship with Croatia. That is the worst blow," he expressed. "That was a big dream for me. To qualify was one of the best moments in my life but I am only 25 and I can play in other Euros. That's what is in my head" he concluded.