Vito Mannone

Vito Mannone (born 2 March 1988) is an Italian footballer who plays for Arsenal, as a goalkeeper.

Club career

Early career

Born in Desio, Mannone was signed by Arsène Wenger during the summer of 2005, joining Arsenal from Atalanta on a three-year deal for a £350,000 compensation fee, as the player had not yet signed a professional contract with the Italian side. He made his Arsenal debut in a pre-season friendly against Barnet on 16 July 2005, as Arsenal ran out 4–1 winners.

Loan to Barnsley

On 18 August 2006, Mannone was sent out on a three-month loan to Championship club Barnsley, where he was expected to challenge Nick Colgan for the number-one spot. Mannone's time at Barnsley was not a happy one – on his debut away to Preston North End on 22 September, he came on as a substitute after Colgan was sent off was unlucky to give Preston the winning goal, punching the ball onto Patrick Agyemang's head. In his next match, against Luton Town, starting in place of the suspended Colgan, he dropped a cross late on and Ahmet Brković scored the winner.

Return to Arsenal

After suffering a knee injury, Mannone's loan period was cut short and he returned to Arsenal on 23 October for treatment. He was linked with a loan move to then newly-promoted Scottish Premier League side Gretna in the summer of 2007, but that move fell through.

Mannone regularly played...
Read More