Vito Mannone thankful for Hull City experience

Vito Mannone has insisted that he is ready to fight for a regular place in the Arsenal team after gaining confidence from a loan spell at Hull City last season.

The Italian was sent to the Championship to gain experience when Wojciech Szczesny confirmed his spot as Arsenal's number one goalkeeper.

However, Mannone has been given a chance to prove himself to Wenger due to Szczesny's injury problems.

The 24-year-old said: "I had bad times and I just rolled up my sleeves and worked hard. Then I thought, 'Let's go to Hull'. Nobody wants to go there really but I found myself.

"I found a good club, good fans and I gained experience. I played games as a No.1 — 24 in a row — so that's what I needed. It helped me going on to the pitch thinking, 'OK, I can be No.1 now'.

"Every keeper has his own path. I had mine."

Mannone is expected to keep his place in the team for Sunday's trip to Manchester City.