Poom ready to take 'big chance

Mart Poom is ready to make the most of his “big chance” after signing for Arsenal on loan until the end of the year.

The 33-year-old Estonian found himself out of favour at Sunderland following a return from a long-term knee injury, with his last appearance coming during October 2004.

However, with Gunners number one Jens Lehmann banned from the first two Champions League games of the season, manager Arsene Wenger was keen to bring in experienced cover to his squad to back up Manuel Almunia.

The Gunners had been chasing Uruguayan goalkeeper Sebastian Viera, but an agreement could not be reached and so Wenger turned his attentions elsewhere, with Poom fitting the bill, for the short-term at least.

And the experienced Estonian international, who also played in the top flight for Derby, admitted: “It really came out of the blue, but it is a fantastic move for me considering I missed most of last year with an injury and did not start this season as number one.”

He added on the club’s official website, www.arsenal.com: “My last game was in October, so I feel this is a big chance for me.

“It has been very frustrating, you just ask any player who is out for a long time.”

Poom, though, knows he faces a battle to force his way into Wenger’s first-team plans.

“The competition is great in any Premiership club, but Arsenal are one of the major clubs in the world,” he said.

“Jens and Manuel are top ‘keepers so I’ll just do what I can when I am needed. Arsenal play many games so they need a big squad.”

There were also two players who went out of Highbury in loan deals on transfer deadline day.

Defender Justin Hoyte, 20, has moved in the opposite direction to Poom, signing up with Sunderland until the end of the season, while attacking midfielder David Bentley has joined Blackburn.

Hoyte, who has made 17 first-team appearances for the Gunners, is an England Under-21 international and can play in any position across the back four, though he specialises as a right-back.

Bentley will spend the season at Ewood Park.

The 21-year-old had a taste of first-team football during the last campaign when he was on loan at Norwich, making 26 Barclays Premiership appearances and scoring twice during his time with the Canaries, who were relegated on the final day of the season.

The England Under-21 international found his opportunities limited at Highbury, and last month had a transfer request accepted by the north-London club.