Wenger hails Mannone mentality
Reuters - Tuesday 29 September 2009, 09:58
LONDON - Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger
has praised Italian rookie Vito Mannone for his impact during
the Premier League club's goalkeeping crisis.
Wenger has turned to Mannone after losing first choice
keeper Manuel Almunia for the last four games to a chest
infection while reserve goalie Lukasz Fabianski is sidelined
with a knee injury.
The imposing 21-year-old has made an impressive start,
helping Arsenal to a Champions League win over Standard Liege
before keeping clean sheets in Arsenal's last two league
victories.
The latest was a man of the match display in Saturday's 1-0
win at Fulham, which took Arsenal to four straight wins in all
competitions following successive defeats to Manchester United
and Manchester City.
"He played a fantastic game on Saturday and the consistency
is the first sign of quality. He kept us in the game in some
unbelievable situations," Wenger said in an Arsenal
newsletter.
"Overall he has shown he has the potential to be a very
good goalkeeper."
Mannone, who made his Premier League debut on the final day
of last season against Stoke City, signed from Italian side
Atalanta in July 2005.
"Vito comes from Italy and that means he is a lover of the
game," the Frenchman added.
"He is a quiet boy but he has outstanding physical
qualities and fantastic reflexes. He deeply wants to improve
every day."
Mannone will continue to deputise for Almunia in Tuesday's
Champions League match at home to Greek side Olympiakos
Piraeus.