Manuel Almunia joins West Ham on one-month emergency loan

Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia has joined West Ham United on a one-month loan to provide emergency cover for Robert Green.

Green, 31, will be out of action for around four weeks with a knee cartilage injury.

His unavailability leaves the squad with Peter Kurucz, Marek Stech and Ruud Boffin as options between the posts, although they lack sufficient first-team experience.

"We've been hot on the phone and secured an excellent signing in the short-term in Manuel Almunia from Arsenal," manager Sam Allardyce told West Ham TV.

"It's a big 'thank you' again to Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for allowing us to get such a high-class and experienced goalkeeper to come in and fill in for Robert for the time being."

West Ham return to Championship action tomorrow (Saturday) away to Crystal Palace.