Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the injury to goalkeeper Wojciech Szczesny provides a great opportunity for Manuel Almunia.
The 33-year old Spaniard has fallen down the pecking order at the Emirates in the last six months but put his best foot forward when called upon on Tuesday night in the Champions League Round of 16 second leg in Barcelona.
Almunia came on inside the opening 20 minutes to replace Szczesny, who dislocated his finger whilst saving a blast from Dani Alves in the 3-1 loss, and performed brilliantly to continually deny a Barca onslaught.
Wenger will start Almunia in tomorrow's FA Cup quarter-final against Manchester United at Old Trafford and the Gunners boss is confident it will do him the world of good.
"It is a good opportunity for him," said Wenger. "He did quite well when he came on and he was quite busy in the final part of the game.
"He has handled being out of the team very well.
"He is very professional and has a very dignified attitude and overall he has done very well.
"That's part of the job being a footballer. Competition in any position exists and you cannot complain about that..
"When I took (Jens) Lehmann out, who made only one mistake, and put Almunia in, Jens Lehmann came in the next day and fought even harder.
"That's what I believe our job is about."
