Arsenal

Arsene Wenger: 'Vito Mannone can be Arsenal's first-choice goalkeeper'

By Subhankar Mondal, Reporter | 14 September 2012

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger backs goalkeeper Vito Mannone to fight for a regular place in the starting lineup following his impressive performances this season.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that goalkeeper Vito Mannone is now a contender for a regular starting berth.

The 24-year-old Italian started the Gunners' last two Premier League matches against Liverpool and Stoke City due to injuries to Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski.

"He has done really well," Wenger told Arsenal's official website. "Vito was allowed to move at the start of the season, to play somewhere.

"Now he has been number one for two games and has at least moved into being a serious candidate to be fighting for the place. At the moment, Wojciech is but there is a fight there and it is interesting."

Wenger is also pleased to have competition among his goalkeepers for the first-choice slot.

"We have three goalkeepers who have the talent to play in the Premier League and to fight for the number place," said the Frenchman. "That's Wojciech, Fabianski and Mannone.

"Usually we keep two and let one go away to play, because they need to play. Now Vito has taken advantage of the fact that Fabianski and Wojciech were injured."

Mannone moved to Arsenal from Italian club Atalanta in 2005.