Arsenal goalkeeper James Shea believes his season should be archived as one in which great progress was made as he was on the bench, for the Gunners, seven times this season.

The Englishman also confessed that even though he knows he will not be in the starting eleven the way he prepares for the game is no different than that of all other goalkeepers as he tries not to put too much pressure on himself just in case he is needed by his team.

Asked about Jens Lehmann, Shea was full of smiles as he joked how it’s unbelievable how a 41-year old can be so sharp and so professional as he explained that the German is the first one to be in the gym, the last one to leave and also the first one to be in for training.

On his season, Shea said:

I’ve made great progress so far considering coming from last season where I didn’t play many reserve games, only got a few. This season I’ve played a lot more games and had lot more chances with all goalkeepers getting injured, it’s been going well so far.

I’ve been on the bench seven times this year, it’s been a great experience for me, especially Manchester United. This is one of the games you look at growing up, just to be involved in one of them is unbelievable for me.

Yes of course, [I prepare as if I'm going to play]. Even if I’m on the bench I do my same routine as if I’m going to play the full game. Nothing changes, I try not to put pressure on myself, I just take it as another game with my mates. [Jens Lehmann] is great. He’s cool, calm and collected, I don’t know see where people got this mad perception about him from.

He is very professional. He’s always the first one in the gym, last one out, first one out for training, last one in from training. It’s like he’s never been away, he’s 41, it is amazing.