Jens Lehmann concedes two playing for Arsenal reserves

Veteran goalkeeper Jens Lehmann returned to action for Arsenal for the first time in almost three years with a run-out for the reserves today in their 2-1 defeat at Wigan.

Whether the 41-year-old will step up to the senior team on Saturday against Blackburn at the Emirates Stadium remains to be seen.

Lehmann, however, got a full 90 minutes under his belt at Robin Park this afternoon.

The former Germany international came out of retirement to help ease the Gunners' goalkeeping crisis after injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski left Manuel Almunia as the only fit senior keeper.

Almunia, 33, may have only just found himself back in the first-team picture, but the Spaniard is already under the spotlight once again after a poor performance in the 2-2 draw at West Brom on March 19.

Lehmann's last appearance for the Gunners came against Everton on May 4, 2008 ahead of a move to Stuttgart.

In front of goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton, he was beaten in the 18th minute today when Jordan Robinson got on the end of a free-kick by Daniel Redmond, only to be ruled offside.

Arsenal's young side were reduced to 10 men when skipper Ignasi Miguel was sent off before Jordan Rugg's shot got the better of Lehmann but came back off the post.

Lehmann was left red-faced a minute before half-time when he miscued a kick from a back-pass, but the ball trickled past the post.

He came off second best in the 52nd minute, though, when Callum McManaman put the home side ahead, showing a cool head to outsmart his more experienced opponent.

Lehmann got his bearings wrong on the hour and Jonathan Breeze smashed in a shot past the goalkeeper only to see it blocked.

Joe Holt added a second in the 83rd minute from close range before Rhys Murphy pulled one back from the penalty spot on the stroke of full-time.