Arsenal goalkeeper Jens Lehmann has responded angrily to Oliver Kahn's recent verbal jibe.

Tension between the two stoppers has increased further following the Bayern Munich man's comments.

Kahn's blast stemmed from his belief that the German national stopper cannot afford to not be playing on regular basis for his club.

The 37-year-old replaced Kahn as Germany's goalkeeper during the 2006 World Cup and Kahn has not played for his country since.

"You don't have a chance to win your place in the German side if you can't hold down your place with your club," Kahn said.

"He takes himself far too seriously and thinks he is very important," Lehmann told German Der Spiegel .

"I don't like it when someone glorifies themselves."