Arsenal have finally received some light relief at the end of a turbulent seven days with the news that Jens Lehmann is ready to commit himself to the club. The Germany goalkeeper will confirm his intention to stay in a meeting with Arsène Wenger, the manager, in the next few days and is expected to sign a one-year contract extension by next week.

Lehmann was due to see Wenger for contract talks last week, but the meeting was cancelled after the shock departure of David Dein. The delay gave Lehmann more time to consider his position and he is ready to spurn a late offer from Hertha Berlin to stay at a club that he has served with mixed results for the past four seasons.

Arsenal’s offer of a one-year extension has been on the table for some time, with Lehmann stalling after having his request for a two-year deal rejected. The 37-year-old attracted interest from Seville and Hertha, but has opted to stay at Arsenal because his family are settled in London and he relishes the challenge of playing in the Champions League. Lehmann’s decision represents an important boost for Arsenal at a time of great instability at the club because his departure would have left Wenger without a first-choice goalkeeper.

Manuel Almunia, despite impressing during his appearances in the Carling Cup and FA Cup this season, is seen as little more than a capable deputy, with Wenger hoping to groom Craig Gordon, of Heart of Midlothian, as Lehmann’s long-term replacement. Arsenal are expected to make a bid for the 24-year-old Scotland goalkeeper in the summer.

Lehmann’s retention will also prove popular with Arsenal fans, as he has overcome a difficult start at the club to establish himself as something of a folk hero.

After playing every match as the “Invincibles” went unbeaten in the Barclays Premiership in his first season at the club, Lehmann was dropped in favour of Almunia midway through the next season, but was back to his best last year. Lehmann played a crucial role as Arsenal reached the Champions League final, setting a record of ten successive clean sheets in the competition and establishing a benchmark of 853 minutes without conceding a goal.

Wenger must next appoint a director of football, who will take on the responsibility for transfers and contract negotiations previously handled by Dein. Damien Comolli, the Tottenham Hotspur sporting director, has ruled himself out, but Henri Biancheri, the former AS Monaco sporting director, confirmed yesterday that he wants the job. “It is a post that would please me,” Biancheri, who was at the French club during Wenger’s period there, said.