Champions League Draw: Arsenal Draw Liverpool

Arsenal failed to avoid Premier League opposition by drawing last year's finalists Liverpool in the Champions League Quarterfinal Draw. The mouthwatering all-English tie is the most competitive of the quarterfinals.

The draw means that Arsenal face a tough three weeks, their next six fixtures looking particularly daunting. In addition to facing Liverpool three times in one week, Arsenal will face off against Chelsea and Manchester United in the next three weeks. The Gunners next six games look like this: at Chelsea, at Bolton, Liverpool, Liverpool, at Liverpool, at Manchester United.

Even with the returns of Kolo Toure and Robin van Persie, Arsenal will have a tough time keeping their squad fit during such an important series of games, and Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger may even resort to rotating some of his key players.

Nonetheless, Wenger believes that his team have what it takes to knock Liverpool out of the Champions League, citing the fact that they have already knocked out holders AC Milan.

"Let's give our best," said the manager, "We showed against Milan that when we are at our best we can beat anyone. We just knocked Milan out, who were the holders. That was a big hurdle.

"Now we have the finalists on our route - so why can't we do it again?"

Arsenal fans will be happy to have avoided Premier League title rivals Manchester United and Chelsea, but disappointed not to have drawn foreign opposition. The Gunners are likely to face Chelsea in the next round, as the Blues drew Fenerbahce in the same half of the draw as Arsenal. If Manchester United can beat Roma and the winners of Barcelona and Schalke 04, Arsenal may play English teams for the remaining rounds of the competition.

The full quarterfinal draw:
AS Roma vs. Manchester United
Schalke 04 vs. Barcelona
Arsenal vs. Liverpool
Fenerbahce vs. Chelsea

Semifinals:
Roma/Manchester United vs. Schalke/Barcelona
Arsenal/Liverpool vs. Fenerbahce/Chelsea

Jens Lehmann believes he is still number 1 at Arsenal

Jens Lehmann, Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper since the 2003/04 season seems to have lost his first-choice status at the club after 2 high-profile errors in Arsenal's first two league games. He was taken out due to a reported injury, and his replacement, Manuel Almunia, seems to have played the better of the two in his absence. The veteran shot-stopper was recently backed by Germany coach Joachim Löw to play as the first-choice international 'keeper, but his position at the club has been called into question.

Nonetheless, Lehmann, who reportedly sought a move away from Arsenal during the summer, remains confident that he is still the best goalie at Arsenal, and had no qualms telling this to the press.

"I feel I am the number one at Arsenal and Germany, although I know I have to train hard every day to justify this.

"I have not played recently because I could not play," he said. "If I am injured, then obviously another man plays.

"If he is a superman who stops everything, then I may not play again, but from experience, I know I have played constantly and I am not worried that I will not play again when I am fit."

He also displayed some of his characteristic temper in an outburst towards the press in which he said: "Your interpretation really annoys me.

"You write something and then you read it again and think that you were right, so then you ask me what I think of it.

"Don't ask me how I should interpret your interpretation.

"You were in England (for Germany's game against England last month) and have read the English press, which I don't read. If I did read it, then I would go crazy.

"The English exaggerate everything and how can you understand such an interpretation?"

All that I can say about all of this is that I sincerely hope that Lehmann is dropped from the squad. I think we should give him a chance to regain his top spot in the Carling Cup, but our team is too promising to be held back by errors from the goalkeeper. It may seem a bit harsh to say this, but he is getting old and he is becoming less and less reliable through the past few seasons. Let Almunia hold the spot until Fabianski is good enough or sign a new 'keeper. Lehmann is way past his prime.

Jens Lehmann tried to leave Arsenal during the summer transfer window

Goalkeeper Jens Lehmann, who has been with Arsenal since 2003, reportedly tried to secure a move away from Arsenal during the last few days of the summer transfer window.

Lehmann seems to have lost his number one spot to Spanish 'keeper Manuel Almunia who has been performing admirably for Arsenal thus far, with only 1 goal conceded in 4 matches. This means that even when Lehmann comes back from injury he may be relegated to the bench.

Many Arsenal fans lost faith in the belligerent German international after he made two high profile mistakes in his first two league games of the season, costing Arsenal two precious points against Blackburn - points that would have seen Arsenal at the top of the table. However, despite the relative lack of faith from the fans, his Arsenal teammates, and especially Arsene Wenger have continued to back him. It now seems as though he may permanently lose his position as first choice goalkeeper for Arsenal to Almunia, and for that reason he may have attempted to leave Arsenal during the transfer window.

His former club, Schalke, were reportedly interested in bringing him back to the Bundesliga, but time ran out with Arsene Wenger unable to line up a replacement. However, if Almunia continues to be played over Lehmann, we may see the exit of one of our last invincibles in January.