Jans Lehmann

JENS LEHMANN last night bid a tearful farewell to Arsenal supporters and said: “You will always be in my heart.”

The German keeper, 38, admitted he welled up after playing his last ever game for Arsenal in the 1-0 win against Everton on Sunday.

Despite the fiery German’s bitter attacks on Arsene Wenger after losing his starting place this season, the Arsenal boss still brought him on for Lukasz Fabianski for 20 minutes so he could say goodbye to the fans.

And Lehmann got a huge ovation from the packed Emirates.

Lehmann, keeper for the 2003-04 unbeaten ‘Invincibles’, said: “It was very emotional for me. I got some minutes on the pitch to say goodbye.

“It’s always good to say bye, bye to supporters. The farewell will always stay in my mind — and the club and the supporters will always stay in my heart.

“Of course, I had one or two tears in my eyes, it was a great farewell for me. The boss told me before he planned to get me on.”

Lehmann listed the Invincibles’ title win in 2004 and the 2005 FA Cup win on penalties against Manchester United as great memories.

But his finest hours were helping Arsenal reach the Champions League final two years ago.

Lehmann kept a clean sheet against Real Madrid at Highbury in the last 16. Then he saved a last-minute penalty in the semi-final at Villarreal to put the Gunners through to the final in Paris, where they lost 2-1 to Barcelona.

He said: “My biggest memory? Probably the Real Madrid game at home, when we played 0-0. Then of course the FA Cup final.

“Saving that penalty against Villarreal was big as well.”

Arsenal’s Invincibles were crowned champions in 2004 at the home of their most hated rivals Tottenham — even though Spurs came back from two down to snatch a last-gasp leveller.

Lehmann recalled: “What was a very, very emotional moment for me also was when we became champions at Tottenham.

“I was with Sol Campbell and we were the only players who felt disappointed in the dressing-room because we didn’t know we were champions by this time.

“We had conceded a goal just at the end.”

But the ex-Borussia Dortmund stopper admitted he will always be haunted by the memory of the Barca defeat in Paris — when he got sent off after 18 minutes.

He added: “By the time we left the final you’re very upset and disappointed. And you don’t realise, particularly me, that might have been my last chance.

“I was desperate this season to get there again. We were a little unlucky getting knocked out by Liverpool. Unfortunately I might not have the chance again.”

As for his future, Lehmann added: “I have not decided if I will carry on after the European Championships. It depends on the offer, it depends how exhausting the European Championships are.

“If I feel too tired I might stop. But I had the opportunity to refresh during the season and physically I feel very, very good.

“So I might play on for another year. I have no regrets about my time at Arsenal. It was the right decision to come here.”