Mannone pens new deal

Arsenal goalkeeper delighted to sign long-term contract

Last updated: 25th January 2010   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Mannone pens new deal

Mannone: Long-term contract

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Vito Mannone has committed his future to Arsenal by signing a new long-term contract.

The Italian goalkeeper joined the Gunners in 2005 and spent time on loan at Barnsley the following year.

He made his Arsenal debut on the final day of last season before shooting to prominence when he had an extended run in the side earlier this term.

Injuries to Manuel Almunia and Lukasz Fabianski presented the chance to Mannone and he seized the opportunity to impress.

The 21-year-old made eight appearances and produced one particularly eye-catching performance in a 1-0 victory away to Fulham.

Mannone is delighted to be staying at Emirates Stadium and hopes he can now go from strength to strength.

Happy

"It's a great day for me, a great moment. I'm really happy to be staying at Arsenal and will give everything to repay the club for the faith they have shown in me," he told the club's official website.

"I have progressed a lot since coming here. I've been here for a lot of my growing life so yes, I have improved as a man and as a player.

"I've learned a lot from my experiences at Arsenal and am happy to have the chance to grow more and more."

A number of Italian clubs were rumoured to be interested in signing Mannone but he insists it was an easy decision to pen a new deal.

"Yes, it was always Arsenal. I'm delighted to be staying here because it was always my plan when I was really young to come to England and make it here at Arsenal, which is one of the biggest clubs in the world," he said.

"Now I want to try and become the No.1 goalkeeper here, and help the team win trophies."