Former Tiger Mannone gets Wenger’s support

Wojciech Szczesny suffered an ankle injury in the 6-1 Barclays Premier League win over Southampton at the weekend, which was his first game back since a rib problem.

The Italian had kept two clean sheets, at Stoke and Liverpool, deputising for the Poland international earlier this season – in marked contrast to his last European performance for the Gunners, when he produced a calamitous display in the defeat at Olympiacos last December.

A productive four-month loan spell at npower Championship side Hull built up the confidence of the 24-year-old once again, though, and Wenger has no issue with throwing Mannone straight into the action at Stade La Mosson.

“Vito is very close (to the Arsenal No 1 jersey), and he gets another opportunity now,” said Wenger as the squad prepared to leave Luton Airport yesterday, with midfielder Abou Diaby fit again following a hip problem.

“He has belief and he has the mental strength to deal with that.”

With Lukasz Fabianski also sidelined because of injury, and Argentina youth international Damian Martinez not on 
Arsenal’s Champions League squad list, 21-year-old Academy product James Shea will take an unexpected place on the bench.

“He was on the list as goalkeeper No 5 at the beginning of the season and now he is No 2. That shows you how quickly football can change,” said Wenger.

Szczesny’s error saw Arsenal concede a first Premier League goal of the season against Southampton on Saturday.

While not putting that down to any fitness issue, Wenger accepts it would have perhaps been better to rest the Pole again after he suffered the new problem during the warm-up.

“He says not, but of course we had a question in our minds before the game: do we change him or not? We decided to leave him on – maybe it was a mistake,” Wenger said.

Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero could make his return in tonight’s Group D match at Real Madrid after a month out with a knee injury.

Midfielder Gareth Barry (abdominal) is also in contention after appearing for the first time this season as a substitute in Saturday’s draw at Stoke.

Right-back Micah Richards (ankle) remains sidelined.