Mannone's loan move is good for both him and the club

I cannot but feel happy for the young lad as he chooses to join Championship club Hull on loan until January. This is his chance to show the Professor what he is capable of. Mannone has been making noises on how he has not been able to get a game despite the lack than inspiring performances from Almunia and Fabianski.

Szczęsny made a similar rant earlier in the season but both he and Mannone would never get a start in the league this season unless both Almunia and Fabianski were injured. Szczęsny, who went out on loan Brentford last season and impressed, has obviously leapfrogged Mannone as the third choice keeper in Arsene’s mind. The loan move did wonder for the Pole and I would think that Mannone must be thinking of the same thing. If he can put in a good season under his belt, he would just be back in the manager’s reckoning.

Given their age, both Szczęsny and Mannone could have a big future at Arsenal. Szczęsny, obviously has been earmarked by Arsene as the future no 1 but Mannone  can have a say in that as well. His performance against Fulham last season definitely deserves praise and if he can produce that performance day in day out, then we would really have solved our goalkeeping problems.

With Arsene looking for a world class keeper (not to say he would find one that meets his price), many people are looking at Mannone’s loan move as putting him out in the shop window. I choose to disagree. Out all the 4 goalkeepers we have, I think Almunia is most like the one to be shipped out come January. I know he is injured at the moment but Fabianski seems to be the no 1 for Arsene now until the Pole makes a blunder.

If someone like Markus Stekelenburg comes in then, I don’t think Arsene would keep Almunia as his age and ability does not fit into the manager’s plans.