The Old Lady, the old man and a new conquistador

Veteran Lehmann knows Arsenal's fate may be in his hands - just as the outstanding contribution from wonderboy Fabregas sets up a dream opportunity

At the end of last Tuesday's captivating 2-0 victory over Juventus in the first leg of their Champions' League quarter-final there were youthful high-fives of almost disbelieving delight from Arsenal's boys-to-men such as the astounding Cesc Fabregas, but not so much as a smile from Jens Lehmann. Instead, the goalkeeper left the pitch deep in discussion with Robert Pires, apparently about a supposed lapse in concentration that might have cost his first goal conceded in the competition for seven games (equal-ling Milan's record) and altered the complexion of the tie.

Each reaction said something about the strength of the disparate elements suddenly coming together and giving the team every chance this week of going where Arsenal have never gone before, to the semi-finals of the European Cup. Fabregas's exuberance after thoroughly eclipsing Patrick Vieira and the menacing Brazilian, Emerson, illustrated the joie de vivre of the young Spaniards and Francophones Arsène Wenger is bringing on so thrillingly.

Of the brightest of them all, the manager said: "Fabregas's performances have been the same since the beginning of the season. He looks to me as if he has gained some more physical power, but the quality of his game has been exactly the same.

"And mentally he has always been strong. You have those who are inhibited when they go into a big game and the ones who raise it, and I'd put him in the second category."

That bracket would include Arsenal's oldest player as well as the youngest. Halfway through last season Wenger felt it necessary to drop Lehmann for 11 games, and was delighted with his goalkeeper's professional response: "He took it in a positive way instead of sulking. He came in and said he wanted to work more. I'm proud of that and he can be proud of it too, because I respect that kind of attitude."

To English crowds, Lehmann has often appeared to be a stereotypical Herr Angry, the irate figure who delayed taking a goal-kick to rush out and berate his defenders for allowing Juve their one worthwhile attempt in 90 feeble minutes; the crazy keeper who during his time in Germany collected five red cards and once attacked one of his own (Borussia Dortmund) supporters who had been abusing him.

In England, where he reacts furiously to physical challenges on him, there have been yellow cards for incidents like the push on Robbie Keane that threatened his team's historic unbeaten season late in the championship-winning game at Tottenham, and a £10,000 fine for throwing the ball at Kevin Phillips. Yet within an hour of Tuesday's success, another side of the man was on show, much more like the mature, rounded figure who studied part-time for an economics degree and prefers to spend football trips reading rather than playing cards or computer games. There were self-mocking references to his age - he looks much younger than his 36 years - considered answers in impeccable English to leading questions and even the hint of a grin or two.

After all, it had been a good night's work, hadn't it? "This result could have been a bit better for us because when they were down to nine men you expect to put the result beyond doubt for the second leg, but that did not happen. We are having a good run but it could be terminated on Wednesday [in the second leg] if we don't pay attention to the defensive work."

But why Herr Angry? "I am always looking angry on the pitch. That is my manner. I have to be concentrated. As a goalkeeper you try to be a perfectionist, and if you neglect concentration a little bit and smile then you will concede a goal. The advantage of my age is that I have a lot of experience of the European Cup. Juventus weren't playing that well but they just needed to score a goal and then they would only have to win one-nil, which shouldn't be too difficult on your home soil. That's why I wanted to be totally switched on and make sure my team-mates were concentrating fully."

Like Wenger, who talks about paying the cost of youth and inexperience in (lost) points, Lehmann is still prepared to allow for the occasional lapse, while admiring the progress made by the young men in front of him, notably Kolo Touré (25 last week), Emmanuel Eboué (22) and Mathieu Flamini (just 22). "Due to youth you can't have total consistency in your game. As an old guy I have to be consistent and that is what I am trying to achieve. The youngsters don't surprise me any more. Against Real Madrid it was surprising how well they did, but I am getting used to it."

His championship medal of 2004 (as the only Arsenal player to appear in every match) was the first won by any German and was followed last season by emulating Bert Trautmann's FA Cup success of 50 years ago. At Schalke, Lehmann was a Uefa Cup winner, so the Champions' League remains the target, one infuriatingly missed two years ago, when the final was played on Schalke's ground.

Having missed out on that occasion after defeat by Chelsea and then last season gone out to Bayern Munich and his occasionally bitter German rival Oliver Kahn, he is understandably not tempting fate about the prospects this time: "Ask me at the end of the season. I am confident in our game but I know we shall have a lot to do there [in Turin]."

And the reason for the appar-ent disparity between Arsenal's League and European form? Again, he echoes Wenger, who on Friday spoke of being "kicked off the park at Newcastle". For Lehmann: "We had a dip in the League during the winter when it was very physical. What you have to admit is when you play European games the referees are completely different to when you go to Newcastle, Bolton, Blackburn and so on, and it suits us more in Europe because the teams in the Premiership are quite physical, elbowing and kicking. The English referees are used to that, but the ones who come over from Europe are not. So the European game suits us more."

Soon after arriving at Highbury from Borussia Dortmund in the summer of 2003, Lehmann said: "If I am working hard I will have luck in the end." These days he is apparently the first to arrive for training, and frequently the last to leave, as if relishing every moment.

"It is preparation after the game and preparation for the next game. I have got maybe one, two or three years left. I don't want to have regrets and say I didn't do enough to get the maximum out of them."

As Highbury's young hopefuls head for the Alps and reach for the sky, they would do well to pay attention to the angry old man.

Quarter-Finals Second Legs: Enter Juninho, exit Tiago for Houllier's men

TUESDAY

MILAN (0) v LYON (0)

Sylvain Wiltord, John Carew and Lyon's Brazilian substitute Fred could not find a way through Milan's ageing defence last week, which has kept the odds in the Italians' favour. Some of what Gérard Houllier's French champions will gain with the return of their set-piece specialist Juninho they have lost with the suspension of former Chelsea man Tiago for a booking in added time of the first leg. But a 1-1 draw to see Lyon through cannot be discounted.

TUESDAY

VILLARREAL (1) v INTER (2)

Diego Forlan's goal for Villarreal, struck after only 45 seconds of the first game, remains hugely important and has left this tie better balanced than might have been expected, despite the reprisals by strikers Adriano and Obafemi Martins. Manuel Pelleg-rini's side, who have scored only three goals in six group games, should be strengthened for the return leg and may try to play the Italians at their own game by sneaking a 1-0 win. The Spaniards claim they are hiring Arsenal's Robert Pires.

WEDNESDAY

JUVENTUS (0) v ARSENAL (2)

However many free tickets are handed out at their white elephant of a stadium (shortly to have its capacity severely reduced), a Juventus shorn of the suspended Patrick Vieira, Mauro Camoranesi and Jonathan Zebina will need an early goal to create any sort of atmosphere. Pavel Nedved's return after suspension can only be an improvement on Adrian Mutu on the left of midfield, but Arsenal's nerveless youngsters must believe they have the energy and pace to inflict further damage on a surprisingly vulnerable defence.

WEDNESDAY

BARCELONA (0) v BENFICA (0)

Barcelona, now clear favourites to become European champions for only the second time, ought to have established a lead in the first leg in a predictably open game. Benfica will be more cautious this time and can expect to come under severe pressure. They have shown at Old Trafford and Anfield this season that they are capable of striking on the break, but Ronaldinho and Company ought to have too much firepower.

Odds (William Hill): 13-8 Barcelona; 7-2 Arsenal; 9-2 Milan; 5-1 Inter; 11 Lyon; 16 Juventus; 20 Villarreal; 22 Benfica