Arsenal have had 'by far' the worst refereeing decisions this season, claims Jens Lehmann

Jens Lehmann claims that Arsenal have suffered the worst refereeing decisions of any side this season as they struggle to keep the pace with their top six rivals.

Sunday’s 2-1 defeat at Bournemouth left Arsenal eight points off fourth-placed Chelsea and with hopes of a return to the Champions League through a Premier League finish rapidly diminishing.

Indeed Arsenal have won just two of nine league games since the start of December, though in that period Arsene Wenger has become increasingly incensed with the standard of refereeing in the top flight.

Arsenal saw penalties awarded against them in draws with West Brom and Chelsea, the former a contentious handball by Calum Chambers that so incensed Wenger that he labelled referee Mike Dean “a disgrace” and “not honest” in the officials’ dressing room after the match.

Whilst Lehmann conceded that Arsenal had “fallen a bit short of our expectations” in the Premier League he insisted that the Gunners had suffered more than any other side at the hands of officials.

“We had to accept by far the most bad calls in penalty decisions against us,” he told Sport Bild.

“We hope this will balance out over the remainder of the season.”

Former Arsenal goalkeeper Lehmann joined Wenger’s coaching staff during the summer and has spent the last three matches sat next to the manager as he serves a touchline ban for his comments to Dean.

The 48-year-old is one of a string of Germans to have joined the club over recent years, with players such as Mesut Ozil, Shkodran Mustafi and Per Mertesacker joined by a backroom staff that includes head of recruitment Sven Mislintat, formerly of Borussia Dortmund.

Indeed Lehmann believes the club is “German as never before”.

“Players come and go,” Lehmann added. “For instance, you don't know if Mesut Ozil stays.

“But Per Mertesacker will head the academy from the summer on. That's going to be a big loss for the senior squad, because as a captain he is listened to.”