Montpellier vs Arsenal preview - Wenger: Mannone is strong enough

Posted Tuesday, September 18, 2012 by PA

Arsene Wenger has every confidence Vito Mannone holds the "mental strength" to put his Champions League nightmare behind him when he returns to top-flight European action in Montpellier.

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 number one jersey), and he gets another opportunity now," said Wenger as the squad prepared to leave Luton Airport on Monday, 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 number five at the beginning of the season and now he is number two. 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.

Arsenal may be Champions League veterans, now playing in the elite European competition for the 15th straight campaign, and Montpellier only just starting out having won the Ligue 1 title in May, but Wenger warned against any complacency when taking on a side who have lost three from the first five domestic games.

"What they did [last season] is a miracle because I think three years ago they were in the second division and one point away from relegation to division three," he said.

"It is difficult to know why they have not started well this season. Maybe because they were champions and now they are the team to beat.

"People have maybe a little less urgency and everybody is a bit more cautious against them."

Rene Girard maintains Montpellier will always be grateful to Olivier Giroud for the part he played in getting them to the Champions League.

The France international finished joint top-scorer in Ligue 1 last season as Montpellier won the title for the first time in the club's history.

However, the 25-year-old moved to Arsenal in the summer in a £12million deal rather than try to spearhead Montpellier's maiden shot at Europe's elite competition.

Giroud accepts he may be in for a hot reception from some home fans when he returns to Stade de la Mosson.

The Montpellier manager, however, hopes the supporters will remember what Giroud has done for them, before focussing on lifting his side as they aim to recover from a poor start to the domestic season.

Girard said: "Olivier Giroud only left good memories here. He was a very loyal player and man, who did very well for us last season to help win the title.

"I think the fans will welcome him very warmly, but not too much, maybe with just a little 'hi' and a wave."

Montpellier captain Mapou Yanga-Mbiwa remains close with his former team-mate, and shared a joke while away during the recent international break.

"We talked about the game together and a bit about his drought in England," the defender said.

"He managed to do pretty well last season, and sometime you need time to adapt.

"However, I told him it will not be easy against us - and also that he will not score here in Montpellier."