Mannone gives Wenger cause for thought

ARSENE WENGER’S satisfaction was understandable.

A match-winning display of great promise from goalkeeper Vito Mannone, backed up by an uncharacteristically gritty team performance, prompted the Arsenal manager to describe this win as a potential turning point for his side.

Coming into the match, question marks had been placed against both the keeper’s position and Arsenal’s ability to add title-challenging steel to their enthralling attacking play. While those question marks have certainly not been totally erased, Wenger’s claims about the significance of this game were not without foundation.