As drizzle fell from the overcast skies over London Colney yesterday; California sunshine it was not. Still, David Beckham, the former England captain, trained as diligently as usual and, anyway, it was only a short trip back to his home in Sawbridgeworth, Hertfordshire.

Beckham, the Los Angeles Galaxy midfield player, went through his paces at the Arsenal training ground as he tries to keep fit during the Major League Soccer close-season. “We are helping him to work on his fitness and trying to keep it as quiet as possible,” Arsène Wenger, the Arsenal manager, said. “We don’t want to make something complicated out of something that is very simple. He doesn’t live far away and always loved Arsenal - that’s why we help him.”

Beckham’s most recent appearance for the Galaxy was in an exhibition match against Wellington Phoenix in New Zealand on December 1. He is not scheduled to play for them again until the friendly against Gamba Osaka, of Japan, in Hawaii late next month. Beckham does, though, need to keep fit to impress Fabio Capello, the new England manager. If Capello selects him for the friendly against Switzerland at Wembley on February 6, it will be his 100th cap.

If Beckham is not in Wenger’s first-team plans, Jens Lehmann, the Germany goalkeeper, may not feature in them much longer. He will play in Arsenal’s FA Cup third-round tie against Burnley at Turf Moor tomorrow - Manuel Almunia is being rested – but could be nearing his last appearance for the club.

Lehmann’s prospective move to Borussia Dortmund, his former club, stalled yesterday. His wage demands are believed to have been too high, but a deal could be resurrected next week.

Wenger denied reports that he had rejected a bid of £4 million from Tottenham Hotspur for Lassana Diarra. “No, I had nobody from Spurs on the phone,” Wenger said. “I want to keep him.”