Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann says his return to Premier League football is just a ‘question of time’ despite Germany's number one shot-stopper being dropped from the north London club's squad.
Lehmann, 37, produced a top-class performance in last week's 0-0 draw with the Republic of Ireland in Dublin as Germany booked their Euro 2008 place, but has failed to win a place in Arsene Wenger's squad this weekend.
Since picking up an achilles tendon and elbow injury, the German has missed the last ten games for Arsenal with Spaniard Manuel Almunia wearing the number one shirt again at home to Bolton Wanderers on Saturday.
And coach Wenger has chosen Polish goalkeeper Lukasz Fabianski on Arsenal's bench instead of Lehmann.
"I am an Arsenal player and will have to wait for another opportunity to come my way," Lehmann told German tabloid Bild.
"It is just a question of time."
Arsenal coach Arsene Wenger says he expects an impatient Lehmann will "fight every day" to win his place back in the side, despite speculation in the British press the German will be released in time for January's transfer window.
"Patience is not his best quality and Jens will fight every day to be back in the team," said Wenger.
"Jens has not played for us yet he has played for Germany. He will come back and fight to regain his place." But the pressure is on Lehmann to win back his status as Arsenal's number one 'keeper and German coach Joachim Loew says he has to regain his club place to keep his role in the national team for Euro 2008.

Copyright AFP (Agence France-Presse), 2007