Arsenal have completed their first signing of transfer deadline day – Italy international goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on a season long from Palermo the club have confirmed.
The Italian outfit are currently in the second tier, but he spent last season on loan with Serie A side Fiorentina.
The 27-year-old managed 11 clean sheets in 32 league appearances in Florence, and has represented his country on six occasions.
Arsene Wenger said of the loan signing:
Viviano is a player that we have rated for some time and we are very pleased to have signed him on loan. He’s experienced and has proved himself at a high level, and provides us with excellent cover to our existing goalkeepers.
Viviano represents a good bit of business for the Gunners who require more depth in the goalkeeping ranks with Club Number One Wojciech Szczesny and injury-prone Lukasz Fabianski the only senior ‘keepers on their books.
Arsenal sold Vito Mannone earlier this summer to Sunderland have been linked with a number of goalkeepers this summer namely QPR’s Julio Cesar.
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It has been obvious that Wenger chooses to stick with the young Sczcesny so a backup goalkeeper has always been an option in the market rather than an expensive, first choice established international. The Polish stopper has shown his brilliance in recent fixtures however and will be pushed even further for his starting spot by the new arrival.
What are your thoughts Gooners? Not quite the position we were hoping to first be concluded, but it is a good start. It will be a busy few hours.
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