EPL: Was Jens Lehmann Right to Call out Arsene Wenger and Manuel Almunia?

If you didn't think Arsene Wenger's life couldn't get any more dramatic at Arsenal Football Club—think again. 

After Emmanuel Adebayor's run-in with Nicklas Bendnter and Martin Taylor's horrific tackle on Eduardo da Silva, Arsene Wenger has another headache to deal with after Jens Lehmann came out and publicly attacked the French manager and current first-choice goalkeeper Manuel Almunia.

The German international has insisted that if it were up to him, the Champions League quarter final against Liverpool would have ended much differently.

He believed that he could have been the difference between an early exit from Europe and being crowned with a Champions League medal.

The 38-year-old goalkeeper has been out of action for nearly the entire season after he was benched in favor of an in-form Manuel Almunia. He has cited his manager and his fellow team mate for what he refers to as a "tragedy."

"For me personally, it is a tragedy, particularly since I did not have a chance to prevent [the outcome of the match]. I have had such thoughts [about being able to prevent defeats] ever since [Arsene Wenger] took me out of the team following the 0-0 against Milan," Lehmann vented. 

The result may be even harder to swallow for Lehmann as he turned down an opportunity to play first-team football with Bundesliga outfit Borussia Dortmund, in order to fight for his place as Arsenal's number one keeper.

The lack of playing time has some critics wondering whether Lehmann is still worthy of keeping his post as Germany's main goalkeeper under Joachim Low heading into the 2008 European Championships.

In particular, Lehmann has hit out at his manager for failing to provide him with the opportunities to prove his worth to the club.

'I stayed here to win the Champions League and I saw good chances to play, but I have not had these [chances] and that makes me very angry,' he told a German football magazine.

The German almost looks certain to be packing his bags once the season is over as it doesn't look as if Lehmann has a role to play at the Emirates for much longer. Along with Gilberto, Wenger will most likely allow Lehmann to move on in his pursuit for first team football.

The outburst has some questioning Lehmann's professionalism in such a crucial part of the Premier League season. With the season winding down and his side trailing league leaders Manchester United by six points, one has to wonder why Lehmann had to call out his manager in such a dramatic fashion.

Critics and fans alike could understand his frustrations but perhaps Lehmann would have been better off discussing such a matter one-on-one with his manager instead of starting another media circus. 

Despite his ongoing rant, Lehmann can hardly complain about Almunia's performance this season, or even in the latest Champions League match against Liverpool. The uncapped Spainiard has been at the top of his game this season and has done more than enough to convince the Arsenal faithful in his ability to command the area.

Many of the shots Almunia faced were either unfortunate or unstoppable as the match raced to emotional highs and lows.

Fernando Torres' goal and Gerrard's penalty at Anfield were hardly stoppable and it's highly unlikely anything else would have changed if Lehmann came on, especially considering how Lehmann has not played a whole lot in Arsenal's starting eleven for much of this season.

So, for Lehmann to comment on the situation like he did, seems a little naive and even childish in retrospect.

Whether you can sympathize or even agree with Lehmann's viewpoint, there's no question that you would expect better, in terms of behavior from a 38-year-old veteran who's also had experience at international level.

Generally, football experts and fans alike can understand that it's disappointing to not be starting, but to be calling out your own team mates and boss at this stage of the season is absolute ludicrous.

And for Arsene Wenger, it's just another worry for an Arsenal squad that could be in danger of coming away with no silverware after such a promising start to the season.