Wenger impressed by rookie keeper - 7M sport

Wenger impressed by rookie keeper

Posted Saturday, September 26, 2009 by PA

Arsene Wenger gave rookie goalkeeper Vito Mannone "10 out of 10" for an inspired display which helped Arsenal record a hard-fought 1-0 win at Fulham.

The 21-year-old Italian has been standing in for regular stopper Manuel Almunia, currently laid low by a virus.

Mannone produced a string of superb displays through Saturday evening's Barclays Premier League clash at Craven Cottage, which was settled by a well-taken strike from Robin van Persie after 52 minutes.

Wenger said: "I believe you would give him 10 out of 10 because everything he did was right, and for a goalkeeper, that is the most important.

"He stopped everything he had to stop and did not make any wrong decision.

"Overall he has shown he has the potential to be a very good goalkeeper."

Mannone may be the Gunners' third-choice keeper, behind Pole Lukasz Fabianski, sidelined following knee surgery, but Wenger has been impressed by the way the Italian has adapted to the number one slot.

"In this job you have to go from game to game," he said. "Consistency is the first sign of quality.

"Sometimes keepers look unbeatable, and he looked (on Saturday) that he could make every save.

"He has played a fantastic game and until the next game, he is the number one."

Mannone denied Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and substitute Zoltan Gera with a number of impressive stops.

Asked if it was the best performance of his career, Mannone told ESPN: "I would say yes, when you play like that in the first team.

"You have to take your opportunity. I think I did it tonight and I'm happy with the three points, it was a great win.

"We all enjoyed it. It was a great performance by the team and the group showed a lot of solidarity."

Wenger believes the result showed his side - beaten at both Manchester United and City despite playing well - have the qualities needed to mount a serious title challenge.

"It is good for us to know we can win like this, because people always expect us to dominate games and win," said Wenger, his side now up to fifth and with a match in hand.

"We have shown attitude and spirit - without that, we would have not gone away with three points.

"I am very optimistic about the team because what I have seen today means there is something which shows we can go from strength to strength."

Wenger added: "We had some problems during the first half because they stopped us playing our game.

"Fulham played very well, they were committed and organised. We needed to be special to come out with three points.

"We took one of our opportunities very well, but after that Fulham remained always dangerous.

"They fought until the last second."

For Fulham manager Roy Hodgson, there was scant reward for all of his team's efforts.

"I did not think it was a bad performance from us," said the Fulham boss following his side's fourth league defeat.

"We defended well and attacked well against one of the Premier League's better teams.

"We have now played four of last season's top five and can only hope there are other teams out there who we can beat more easily.

"We played better than we did when we beat them here last year. Then, we scored and dug in. This time it was they who got the goal and then dug in."

Hodgson concluded: "All these things are balm for the wound but it is the wound that is the major problem.

"The result of the game is that Arsenal won.

"Now we can say we were unlucky, but it's still a defeat for us and we have lost four of our last five games."

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