Source: Team_Talk
Mannone thrilled with superb display
Gunners' third choice Mannone denied Andrew Johnson, Clint Dempsey and substitute Zoltan Gera with a number of impressive stops.[LNB]And his saves proved decisive after Robin van Persie's 53rd-minute goal settled the match at Craven Cottage.[LNB]Asked if it was the best performance of his career, 21-year-old Mannone told ESPN: "I would say yes, when you play like that in the first team.[LNB]"You have to take your opportunity. I think I did it tonight and I'm happy with the three points, it was a great win.[LNB]"We all enjoyed it. It was a great performance by the team and the group showed a lot of solidarity."[LNB]Van Persie said: "It was very, very hard - I'm really glad we won today. "Fulham played really well and we had a fantastic keeper today - he played the best game of his life and I'm really happy for him."[LNB]Asked about the advice of Arsene Wenger at half-time, the Dutchman added: "He told us to play a bit sharper on the second balls and the goal would come. Eight minutes after the goal came, so the boss was right."[LNB]Wenger himself said: "We could have scored more but I believe Fulham had chances - the goalkeeper kept us a clean sheet today.[LNB]"Vito is a young keeper with talent and he has shown it today. It's only one game but it's good for his confidence.[LNB]"Overall it was a highly committed game and we needed to be special to come away with three points.[LNB]"At half-time I said what we were producing was not enough to win the game - we had to correct a few things tactically.[LNB]"I'm very happy because we've played six games, four times away. Overall I believe the attitude and spirit in the side makes me very positive about this season."[LNB]Asked for his thoughts on Chelsea's shock defeat at Wigan, the Frenchman added: "Everybody can drop points away from home and we've seen it today."[LNB]Fulham boss Roy Hodgson admitted he could not criticise his players, despite a third defeat in six days.[LNB]After 2-1 reverses at Wolves in the league and Manchester City in the Carling Cup, Hodgson was pleased with his team's performance.[LNB]He said on ESPN: "I thought we played well - at 0-0 I was rather hoping we could get something from the game.[LNB]"We came across a goalkeeper in splendid form and a determined Arsenal team - and overall we can count ourselves unlucky not to get something from the game.[LNB]"It's always seconds in football, an inspired moment, a chance taken, as opposed to a chance missed.[LNB]"But it was a good performance over the 95 minutes, I can't fault the effort or quality of our play but they showed their quality in the penalty box can be a decisive factor when it's a close game.[LNB]"It's three defeats in a week but I see Wednesday as a triumph, losing in extra-time to Manchester City with players who don't play in the first team.[LNB]"We played so well today, it bodes well for the future.[LNB]"Every time you lose it's not easy to put a brave face on it but I'm not as disappointed as I was last week (Wolves), when I thought our performance merited a defeat."[LNB][LNB]
