Arsenal goalkeeper Vito Mannone says spell at Hull City helped him improve

Vito Mannone: Says he has worked hard to improve as a goalkeeper

Arsenal's Vito Mannone believes he is a better goalkeeper now because of the experience he had out on loan with Hull City.

The Italian has been thrown into the Gunners starting line-up this season following an injury to regular No.1 Wojciech Szczesny and has so far kept clean sheets against Stoke and Liverpool.

His performances this term have shown a vast improvement on his last outing in an Arsenal shirt, when he produced an error-strewn display in a 3-1 UEFA Champions League defeat by Olympiakos in December 2011.

The 24-year-old was loaned out to Hull the following month and he believes he learnt a lot from his stint at the KC Stadium.

"I think I have improved in every part of the goalkeeper position," Mannone told Arsenal's official website.

"In my mind as well, I came back stronger and stronger (from the loan spell).

"Especially after the mistake at Olympiakos - it's never easy to come back, but when I've got my back against the wall, I don't mind. I just roll up my sleeves and try to work because I know I can do well.

"It's a good fight between the keepers because we know the level is quite high and you need to keep working and improve yourself to get the first spot."