Arsene Wenger built a number of successful teams throughout his time at Arsenal.
Initially using the British core that he inherited to win the double in the late 1990s, the Frenchman then launched the next iteration of his team that dominated the early 2000s.
After that, several exceptional Wenger sides graced the Emirates pitch, although without attaining the volume of silverware they perhaps deserved.
However, the legendary Arsenal boss also encountered his fair share of squad issues, including having to tempt an ex-player out of retirement in the early 2010s.
Arsene Wenger personally convinced Jens Lehmann to come out of retirement for Arsenal
Coming into the 2010/11 season, Manuel Almunia was Arsenal’s first choice goalkeeper.
However, inconsistent form and injuries meant the Spaniard lost his starting place in between the sticks as the season went on, usurped by a young Wojciech Szczesny.
Disaster struck in March 2011, when Arsenal were the midst of a gruelling title race.
Third-choice keeper Lukasz Fabianski suffered a shoulder injury that ruled him out for the rest of the season, while Szszesny sustained a finger injury that ruled him out for several weeks.
That left Almunia as the only senior option available to Arsenal, with fourth-choice keeper Vito Mannone, who was on loan at Hull City at the time, also out injured.
In an emergency move, Wenger resorted to convincing Jens Lehmann to come out of retirement to deputise for Almunia.
The veteran shot-stopper had played 199 times for the Gunners between 2003 and 2008, and hung up his boots in the summer of 2010.
Wenger approached Lehmann in a time of need, and the former number one obliged, agreeing to sign for his old club for the rest of the 2010/11 season.
He’d go on to make one appearance, in a Premier League game away at Blackpool, taking his Arsenal appearance tally to the 200 mark.
Speaking on Lehmann’s return at the time, Wenger said: “Lehmann is training with us and will sign for the rest of the season. We have no cover in the Premier League, so that is why I decided to bring Jens back.
“Jens Lehmann is a great short-term signing for us and will be a valuable asset during a crucial time of the season. Jens has kept himself very fit during this season and will provide quality back-up to Manuel Almunia.
“Jens knows the club very well, is vastly experienced and will also be an extremely positive influence in the dressing room during his time with us.”
Jens Lehmann became the oldest player to play for Arsenal
David Seaman revealed that Almunia and Lehmann disliked each other earlier this year, and thus Lehmann making the headlines with his return in 2011 likely caused animosity from the Spanish keeper.
Regardless, Lehmann’s signing was a necessary one that protected Wenger from having to call upon a youth goalkeeper in a Premier League match, and the former Stuttgart man broke a record when he played against Blackpool in April 2011.
At the age of 41, Lehmann became the oldest player in Arsenal’s history when he was fielded against the Tangerines.
The number one usurped the previous holder of the record, goalkeeper John Lukic, who was just short of turning 40 when he played his final game for the North Londoners.
To this day, no one has or looks likely to surpass Lehmann and take the record from him, particularly as football clubs continue to invest in younger players more frequently.
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