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Former Arsenal goalkeeper Mannone ready to 'fight' for Crawley Town after making impressive start New number one Vito Mannone is ready to fight for Crawley Town after making an impressive start since his summer arrival. Mannone, 38, has played at a host of clubs, including Arsenal, Sunderland and Reading in England, as well as Monaco, Lorient and Lille in Ligue 1. The former Premier League goalkeeper made the move to West Sussex to take up the role of player-coach. And he was arguably the Reds’ best player on Saturday afternoon (August 9) as they lost 1-0 to a cruel stoppage-time stunner at Watford in the EFL Cup first round. While Mannone didn’t initially expect to be Colin Kazim-Richards’ first-choice keeper, the Italian is now relishing the new opportunity late into his career. He said: “I’m a fighter. And If I took the chance and opportunity to sign for this club as a player and as a coach, once I’m on the grass, I want to be the best. “So, it doesn’t matter my age. It doesn’t matter my role or whatever. I’m going to give everything I have, every single minute until I can. Once I raise my hand up, that’s it. "But for the moment, I still have it in me, and I want to fight for this club. We want to achieve big things, and I want to be part of it.” Crawley signed two other keepers in the transfer window – Jackson Izquierdo, 21, as a free agent, and Nichloas Michalski, 19, on a season-long loan from Blackburn. Mannone said: “The boys who came in are two youngsters. They push me every day and I push them to be better keepers because I’m responsible. I’m their coach as well. "We have a nice group. We are working really hard together, and we want to achieve the best possible result, whether it’s me or them in goal. But for the moment, the manager is trusting me, and I want to repay him for what he’s doing for me.” With both playing and coaching responsibilities to juggle, the Italian admitted it’s been a ‘very busy’ start to life at Crawley. He said: “I’m in the thick of it. I love the boys. I think there is a mutual respect between me and them and when I can help in a way from my experiences, I try to help whether it's on the pitch or off the pitch and try to bring my experience as much as possible. “It’s a collaboration. In this group nobody decides anything for anybody, we are all collaborating as a coaching staff and as players to try to reach the best possible outcome.” Mannone is set to make his league debut for the Reds when the League Two season returns on Saturday, August 15 – their first test being against Crewe Alexandra at the Broadfield Stadium.