Thierry Henry: Jens Lehmann Would’ve Punched Me If I Defended Like That On Corners

Thierry Henry reveals how ‘Mad Jens’ dealt with bad defending…

Arsenal hero Thierry Henry compared our defending against West Bromwich Albion to his time at the club and referenced Jens Lehmann as the man who would’ve enforced punishment in the dressing room.

The defending in our box from set-pieces against the most dangerous side aerially in the league was nothing short of disgraceful and led to our downfall.

Craig Dawson was allowed to have a clear run against our zonal marking system to hammer home a header and was even fighting with two other West Brom players to tuck home in a crowded box for his second.

We refused to challenge sufficiently to prevent both strikes which is an indictment of our current plight.

“Jens Lehmann was mad,” Henry said after Redknapp asked if he could’ve imagined defending like that during his era.

“I wouldn’t have liked to go back into the dressing room if Lehmann was a player.

“Jens would’ve come to me and punched my head or do something.”

The fact that our former players reference the leaders we had in the dressing who made sure that the levels didn’t drop and held each other accountable only exposes Arsene Wenger’s flaws.

It’s very difficult a group of players similar to those that shared a dressing room in 2003, and it’s now up to the managers to remind players of their responsibilities.

Henry feared Lehmann more than he did Wenger when heading to the dressing room after making an error, that speaks volumes.