Arsenal sign Emiliano Viviano on season-long loan from Palermo

Arsenal have confirmed the signing of goalkeeper Emiliano Viviano on a season-long loan deal from Italian Serie B side Palermo.

The goalkeeper arrives at the Emirates with plenty of experience in Italian football, having spent last season on loan at Fiorentina, where he kept 11 clean sheets in 32 appearances.

He has also played for Inter Milan, Bologna and Brescia, where he started his playing career. Viviano is an Italian international and has played six times for the national team, a number that would probably be a lot bigger if Gigi Buffon wasn’t Italian.

Viviano is being brought in to compete with Wojciech Szczesny and Lukasz Fabianski. Vito Mannone left the club for Sunderland earlier this summer, so it was important that we brought in another goalkeeper. I think if Fabianski was ever going to be first choice at Arsenal, Wenger would have kept him in the team when he had an impressive spell towards the end of last season (March – April time).

After signing the Italian goalkeeper, Arsene Wenger said the following:

"“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.” – Arsene Wenger on new signing Emiliano Viviano. Quotes: Arsenal.com"

I expect that Viviano will get a game at West Brom in the League Cup and any other potential League Cup ties should we progress beyond the 3rd round. If he impresses in training, Szczesny loses form or gets injured or suspended, he will get his chance to shine.

Some media sources are claiming Arsenal have the option to make this a permanent deal at a set fee, others simply say that it’s just a loan deal. We will have to see at the end of the deal, firstly whether we want to keep him or not and secondly whether there is an option in this loan deal. At the moment, I wouldn’t worry about that too much.

The most important thing is that Arsenal have added another goalkeeper and they COULD be set to sign Mesut Ozil from Real Madrid. It’s very close right now. I’m not saying any more on it until it is signed, sealed and on the Arsenal website so I can see it with my own eyes! 🙂

Arsenal made their first signing of Transfer Deadline Day earlier this evening by signing Emiliano Viviano on a season-long loan from Palermo.