Gunners boss pleased to have three goalkeepers available.
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes it was a “no-brainer” to sign Emiliano Viviano on loan this season, praising his qualities as a back-up player to current first-choice Wojciech Szczesny.
Speaking to the club’s official site, the Frenchman said that although he believes the on-loan Palermo shot-stopper is currently at the top of the game, he does not see him as a replacement for his number one shot-stopper.
Szczesny’s form has come under some criticism over the last year or so, after initially looking like a promising youngster when he first broke into the side in the 2010/11 season.
Arsenal were linked with the likes of Julio Cesar and other goalkeepers this summer, as it seemed that Wenger was keen to bring in a new player in that position to be the club’s first choice.
However, he seems set to keep his faith in the Polish international, with Viviano simply brought in to provide depth after some injury concerns with other backup player Lukasz Fabianski.
“He comes to the Club at the top of his game. It was a very good deal for us at a good moment, I think it was a no-brainer as well,” he said.
“With two goalkeepers available for the Premier League and all the competitions we face, we felt we were a bit short because sometimes you have injuries and sometimes you need to rest one of the goalkeepers.
“At the moment, Wojciech is No 1 unless I decide otherwise. They are all competing for the place of the No 1. At the moment, one and two are Wojciech and Fabianski. After, maybe I will rotate.
“Viviano is a highly-rated goalkeeper in Italy so we have three goalkeepers that are very compact quality-wise.”
Viviano also spent last season out on loan, spending the 2012/13 campaign with Serie A side Fiorentina, though they decided not to sign him permanently, and it is unclear if the Gunners will look to do so when next summer comes.