West Ham have signed Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia on an initial one month emergency loan.

The experienced Spaniard has come to the club because England goalkeeper Robert Green faces six weeks out with a knee cartilage injury.

The 34-year-old keeper is poised to make his debut for the Irons tomorrow at Crystal Palace.

Hammers boss Sam Allardyce told the club website: "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."