Vito Mannone

Vito Mannone (born March 2, 1988) is an Italy football (soccer) goalkeeper (football) who currently plays for Arsenal F.C..

Mannone was signed by Arsène Wenger during the summer of 2005. He signed a 3 year deal with the Gunners after joining from Atalanta B.C. 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 friendly match against Barnet F.C. on July 16, 2005, as Arsenal ran out 4-1 winners; he has not made a competitive appearance for the first-team.

On August 18 2006 he was sent out on a three month loan to Barnsley F.C. 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 F.C. on September 22 he came on as a substitute after Colgan was red-carded and gifted Preston the winning goal, punching the ball onto Patrick Agyemang's head. In his next match, against Luton Town F.C., starting in place of the suspended Colgan, he dropped a cross late on and allowed Ahmet Brkovic to score the winner.

After suffering a knee injury, Mannone's loan period was cut short and he returned to Arsenal on October 23 for treatment.
It was rumoured that he was going to go on loan to Scottish Premier League side Inverness Caledonian Thistle F.C. in January 2007, however they could not guarantee him a first team place. He was also linked with a loan move to Gretna F.C., but that move fell through.