Arsenal’s goalkeeping coach Gerry Peyton has hailed keeper Jens Lehmann, who is set to leave the Gunners during the summer when his contract expires.

Both Peyton as well as Lehmann came to the club in July 2003 where the German keeper made 198 starts for the Gunners.

"I am sorry to see him go," Peyton told Arsenal.com. "We both came at the same time and found ourselves at a big club. David Seaman had just left having been a great keeper for Arsenal and Bob Wilson had just retired having been a great goalkeeping coach. So we sort of looked at each and thought 'hang on we'd better win some trophies'.

"The first season could not have gone any better with the unbeaten run. The second season was very good and Jens had a great display as we won the FA Cup.

"In the third season we went to the Champions League Final and he was voted the best keeper in that. And remember he also took the German keeper's jersey from a legend, Oliver Kahn.

"For me Jens is a total professional and he is a character. He is a lovely man off the field and on the field he has an edge that means he demands the best of everyone alongside him.

"He is driven and, at 38, there will be teams ringing him up asking if he'll play for them. So I think he can leave Arsenal with his head held high."