Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed goalkeeper Vito Mannone will again feature for the Gunners as he will keep his place for tomorrow’s game against Blackburn.

Speaking ahead of Sunday’s game, the Frenchman also declared he was surprised by the Italian’s performances when called to replace regular Manuel Almunia.

He said:

Almunia is very close now, he is in full training and he is very close. But Mannone is in goal this weekend.

Vito has done very well but I cannot say he has exceeded my expectations because I had never seen him play at that level in a consistent way.

You have to accept that as long as the player is not under stress with the pressure to perform, you don’t know how he responds. And he has managed that very well.