Almunia joins West Ham in emergency loan

Arsenal's Manuel Almunia has been signed by West Ham United for an initial one month emergency loan to provide cover for the injured Robert Green.

Almunia has moved down the pecking order in the last year and is now considered fourth choice keeper at Arsenal, behind Wojciech Szczesny, Lukasz Fabianski and Vito Mannone.

He will take Robert Green's place, who was earlier diagnosed with a knee cartilage injury that could see him out of action for six weeks.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce was ecstatic about Almunia's arrival, telling West Ham TV, "We've been hot on the phone and secured an excellent signing in the short-term in Manuel Almunia from Arsenal.

It's a big 'thank you' again to Arsene Wenger and Arsenal for allowing us to get such a high-class and experienced goalkeeper to come in and fill-in for Robert for the time being.

"I think he hasn't had as many games at Arsenal as he would have liked so he wants to play first-team football at the end of the day.

"We hope that huge amount of experience he has had at Arsenal and the football he has played on a regular basis will stand us in good stead here at West Ham and more and more clean sheets will come from his presence in goal. That will obviously help us to secure more victories while Robert is out."

Almunia becomes the second Arsenal player to join West Ham on loan, with Henri Lansbury having made a move in the summer.