Arsenal are close to signing 41-year-old Jens Lehmann for the rest of the season, BBC Sport understands.
Injuries to Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone have left Manuel Almunia as the only fit keeper.
The ex-Germany keeper played 199 times for Arsenal between 2003 and 2008 but has been a free agent since retiring in 2010 after two years with Stuttgart.
If the deal is done in time, Lehmann is likely to be included in the squad for Saturday's trip to West Brom.
Lehmann, who played 61 times for Germany, left Arsenal in 2008 after losing his place to Almunia.
The German keeper was part of Arsenal's "Invincibles" - the team that went unbeaten during the 2003-2004 season - helping the Gunners win the Premier League, while he played a key role in their FA Cup final penalty shoot-out win over Manchester United in 2005.
The following year he was sent off in the first-half of Arsenal's Champions League final defeat to Barcelona in the Stade de France.
Before his first spell with Arsenal, the German keeper played for Schalke, AC Milan and Borussia Dortmund.
Fabianski, who last played since for Arsenal in the 0-0 draw with Manchester City on 5 January, has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a shoulder injury, while compatriot Szczesny will miss the next six weeks after dislocating his finger during the Champions League defeat by Barcelona last week.
And Mannone, who has teen troubled by a thigh injury while on loan at Hull, is also out for six weeks.
The Italian keeper is receiving treatment at the Arsenal training ground.
by 115-1073096938 » Mon Aug 23, 2004 8:45 pm
