Wenger acknowledges Mannone challenge

Arsene Wenger hopes rookie goalkeeper Vito Mannone is ready for the “big challenge” of a Champions League debut at Standard Liege tonight.

With regular number one Manuel Almunia having not travelled to Belgium because of a virus and Poland international Lukasz Fabianski still recovering from knee surgery, the young Italian is set for a baptism of fire at the 27,000-capacity Maurice Dufrasne Stadium.