Germany coach Jurgen Klinsmann has been alternating between our Mad Jens and the previously unshiftable incumbent Oliver Kahn for a while now. But while Jens has gone from strength to strength at the Gunners, Bayern Munich's stopper has been having a a run of bad form, and this has been recognised by the former Tottenham striker following a meeting today with Oliver Bierhoff (general manager), Andreas Kopke (goalkeeping coach) and Joachim Low (Klinsmann's assistant).

Kopke explains, "Both goalkeepers have amazing ability. We are, however, convinced that Jens Lehmann is better suited to the way we like to see the game played." By which he means, presumably, not letting goals in but behaving on occasion like a nutter.

Of course, while we still use the 'mad' soubriquet, it is done very much with affection. And these days, certainly since his spell of doubt last season when Arsene Wenger dabbled with Manuel Almunia as an alternative, if not from before that, Jens has restricted his crazy dashes from the box to the times when it's needed. Or when the ball's not in play, like in Wednesday's nil-nil win over Juve when Pavel Nedved hacked down Emmanuel Eboue for the second time, earning his second yellow card, and Jens came charging over to the wing to try to make sure that things didn't not get out of hand. That kind of thing we can live with, and enjoy. But Jens has shed the easy-to-wind-up liability side of his footballing personality that made so many doubt him early on, and his contribution to Arsenal's form should not be underestimated. Several fans have said to me that if we didn't have a shoe-in in the form of Thierry Henry, Lehmann would be their player of the season. And they have a point. It's just that when you've got the best player int he world at your club, he's kind of bound to be the best player at the club. Still, second best at Arsenal, in anyone's book, has got to be pretty good in anyone's book.

Lehmann says, "I'm delighted the decision went in my favour. I'm going to throw myself into it even more than I have done up to now, so as to live up to the requirements of the World Cup. I'll do everything to do justice to the confidence the coaching team has placed in me."

Jens has 29 caps to date (compared to Kahn's 84), and has been on the bench for 4 major tournaments. His first meaningful game as number 1 should (subject to fitness of course) be against Costa Rica on June 9th. Their other group opponents are Poland and Ecuador.

Kahn has, as far as we know, yet to react in public. It'll be interesting to see if he's prepared to sit on the bench all tournament. And if he does, it'll be fascinating to keep an eye on the body language between the pair of them.

Rupe adds...
And, more good news: Lehmann has agreed a one-year contract extension with Arsenal. Wenger says that while it isn't yet signed, it is agreed and he considers "that to be done". So, he'll be Arsenal's mad number 1 for at least one more year. Great stuff. Let's hope that Robert Pires follows the example.