Arsene Wenger maintains it is now up to Jens Lehmann himself whether or not he stays on at Arsenal.

The 38-year-old German goalkeeper has seen his place as Arsenal number one taken by Spaniard Manuel Almunia this season, following a couple of high-profile errors and then a spell sidelined by injury.

After making just one first-team appearance since August 19th, against Steaua Bucharest in the Champions League earlier this month, it now seems Lehmann's future lies away from Emirates Stadium.

Former club Borussia Dortmund, whom he left in 2003 having won the Bundesliga, are said to be leading the chase — with representatives reported to already be in London as they seek to replace injured Roman Weidenfeller, who is facing three months out with a shoulder problem.

Lehmann was clearly unimpressed after being left on the bench following his return to full fitness, declaring the whole saga to be a "humiliation". Wenger, though, continued to praise the veteran as a "super professional".

With first-team football a necessity if Lehmann is to feature for Germany at next summer's European Championships, the Arsenal manager is expecting a tough decision to be made soon.

Wenger said: "Jens Lehmann at the moment has not made up his mind. Once he has made up his mind that he wants to go, we will see. I will be sorry to see him go but I don't want to take him out of the team and stop him from playing in the European Championship."

Wenger does not entirely discount having to call on Lehmann's services.

"Of course, if we have two injuries with the goalkeepers [the situation can change]," he said. "You must always go day by day — but if the situation remains like that and he says 'Listen, I have the only chance to play in the European Championship if I play somewhere' I will try to help him."

The Arsenal manager, however, rejects suggestions a deal has already been done.

He said: "I heard about Dortmund but I have had no contact with anybody."