Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone has stated that his is determined to keep the Arsenal No.1 jersey for the remainder of the season after being given a chance in the team.
The Italian stopper started the Gunners’ Champions League clash with Montpellier on Tuesday night in place of the injured Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski, and has stated that Arsene Wenger’s trust has given him confidence to continue.
“It went well again in Montpellier and I am really focused on gaining the No1 spot and keeping it,” Mannone is reported as saying in The Guardian.
“The boss has had some nice words for me, he talked to me and he said I am ready for the No1. I had two clean sheets in the first two games I played [this season] and, before the Southampton game, the boss talked to me and, for the first time, I felt he understood that I was ready to be No1.
“I am really close to the shirt. I hope, after the result in Montpellier, that something has changed,” he concluded.
Arsenal take on Premier League champions Manchester City on Sunday with Mannone set to play.
By Gareth McKnight