Manninger is on the way back up now

The genial Austrian is speaking at the home of AC Siena. It is difficult to imagine a more picturesque setting. The medieval Tuscan town, which has a population of only 60,000, envelops a stadium that appears to have been put together almost like a Lego set - there are 12 separate stands.

Siena, who had never played in Serie A before last season, are third from bottom, although you would never guess so from Manninger's sanguine demeanour. He is thoroughly enjoying the rare chance to play regularly. "I am happy again and I'm strong again," said Manninger. "I'm up for every game we play now. Hopefully my happiness will remain for longer than it has before. The last two years was definitely tough, but as I bounce back again, I know I can do it. I know I can do it in England and I know that I can do it in Italy."

It is nearly four years since Manninger left Highbury. He admits to having only a passing interest in the club's fortunes now, though he is acutely aware of Arsenal's goalkeeping-crisis. "They have never replaced Seaman," he added. "There is a big hole in the goalkeeper situation but I'm not looking back and saying that I should have stayed. I had a good four years and I learned a lot.

"I think Arsenal could probably have shown more faith in me. Sometimes I say to myself, 'I was at a great club, I achieved a lot, I played a lot but I never was really given a chance to show myself for a certain period of time'. But I went there at the age of 20 and won the Double eight months after - it was like a dream. I know I can play at that level again and I definitely see myself at a club like Arsenal again in a couple of years."

At the age of 27 Manninger still has time, though regaining his place in the national team would no doubt help. The recent omission left him "disappointed", though it would have rankled much more earlier in his career when "football was 24 hours a day". Time spent away from football is now precious. Much of it is spent fishing, a hobby Manninger shared with Seaman during his time in England, although Watford, where they would fish together, seems a million miles from Siena. "It's just magnificent here," Manninger said.

"It's the perfect way of living but it's a little bit small. If you walk through the town you could see the same person three times, that won't happen in London - in London you might not know who your neighbour is for 10 years! But this is beautiful, it's the highest quality of living and I'm just happy to be here."