The Game

Arsenal’s two-game Asia Tour came to an end this afternoon as the Gunners could only manage a draw against an extremely determined Hangzhou Greentown side.

Today, Arsene opted to start with a complete different team than the one that started last Wednesday’s game and it was the local side that enjoyed most of the possession in the first part of the game, going close to take the lead after only two minutes with goalkeeper Vito Mannone brave to deny them.

We had chances, especially with Robin van Persie but it was Sebastian Vasquez who opened the scoring again showing how weak we are when we are to defend set-pieces.

According to my match notes, Sebastien Squillaci made three poor mistakes in three minutes between the 13th and 16th minute of the first half and clearly, this is outrageous. The way he lost his man in the 13th minute and the way he tried to win the ball was embarrassing to see, allowing the striker to go on and hit the post.

Luckily, in stoppage time, Carlos Vela yet again showed why he should be given more first-team chances as he abandoned the uncharacteristic right-wing position to drift in the centre and keep his cool to slot in the empty net.

The second half was better but we failed to hit the target. Theo Walcott on the right put himself in a number of very good positions but poor finishing and Jim Pengziang’s brave saves kept the score level.

Needless to say, we should not be happy with such a disappointing result but in all fairness you could see players who after 30 minutes were already tired and at this stage of the season it is more than understandable.

Carl Jenkinson and Ryo Miyaichi again did well on the right and left wing respectively with – unfortunately – Marouane Chamakh again bringing very little to the Arsenal offensive department. My message is the same as last Wednesday, he needs to wake up the Moroccan if he is to feature as much as he did last season.

As for the Kieran Gibbs vs Armand Traore “battle”, there isn’t much to say since the former featured in a half in which we had the upper hand and was one of the best players but he desperately needs to feature when we are under pressure defensively if we are to reach a stage where we can draw a conclusion on who, of the two, should be our regular left back.

To conclude, it will be very interesting to see how Arsene will deploy new-arrival Gervinho when the Ivory Coast International lands in London. Personally, today, I would have loved to see a 4-4-2 setup with Robin and Carlos up front, after all, the Mexican might as well be the so-called “poacher” we so much needed last season.

I mean call him lightweight, call him not good enough, call him whatever you want but fact is that he ends the Asia Tour with two goals in ninety minutes improving his already-impressive goal to minute ratio for the Gunners. Others end the tour with no goals under their name. Some food for thought there.

As always, whether you agree with my ratings or not, submit your own at Arsenal Interactive and make sure to share them on Twitter and Facebook.

Match Video Highlights

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Player Ratings

Mannone: 6 – Good save in the first minute of the game and not sure he could have done better when we conceded as there was a slight deflection that forced him into a body block.

Squillaci: 3 – Terrible. Awful in the aforementioned 13th minute episode of the game, terrible with his head minutes later forcing Emmanuel Frimpong into conceding a set-piece in a dangerous area from which Greentown scored with the Frenchman too slow to react to the situation.

Djourou: 5,5 – Not at his best either. Sad the way the striker went past him in the first minute of the game and not very convincing in other periods of the game.

Sagna: 6 – Solid game from Bacary and good work to set up Samir in the 35th minute of the game.

Traore: 5,5 – Was better on Wednesday. Frankly, I don’t expect Armand to deliver straight away, he rarely featured for Juventus last season and will definitely need time to regain fitness.

Rosicky: 6 – Hot and cold in midfield. Was very lively in the first part of the game but missed some easy passes as the game progressed.

Frimpong: 6,5 – The way he won the ball in the 8th minute of the game shows what it means to have a strong figure in midfield. Unfortunately, I felt he was careless when having to distribute but in all honesty his job should be to hold, not to distribute.

Nasri: 7,5 – My man of the match. Brilliant run in the 23rd minute of the game but was unlucky to have his effort blocked, involved in the move ended with Robin’s acrobatic volley and went inches close to hit the target with a brilliant first-time effort in the 35th minute.

Arshavin: 6,5 – Another “Dick Advocaat” approved appearance from the Russian. Very quiet but when on the ball he was very good in creating space and of course the one to assist Robin in the move with which we levelled things up.

van Persie: 6 – Nothing to get too excited about although I was impressed with the way he helped the defensive department when needed. Offensively, he missed a couple of chances such as opting to chip the keeper in the 17th minute instead of unleashing his left foot.

Vela: 6,5 – Very lively, the Mexican. Easy goal, but needed a good first touch. Of course I’m not surprised he is performing so well in pre-season, he was as equally lively last year and the one before. Again, the decision is now in Arsene’s hands, will he opt for Marouane Chamakh or finally give a chance to the 22-year old?

(Subs)
Szczesny: No Vote – Unless I missed them, he made zero saves today.

Jenkinson: 7 – Excellent half from the former Charlton Athletic man as he made himself available whenever we were on the attack.

Koscielny and Vermaelen: 6 and 6,5 – As it was the case last Wednesday, these two had very little to do but I was again impressed by the sharpness of the Belgium International, less by the Frenchman who gifted a golden chance to the home team late on in the game.

Gibbs: 7 – Brilliant. Good effort blocked in the 56th minute of the game, more good work minutes later as he set up Aaron Ramsey and again involved in the 63rd minute on the left as he again found the Welshman.

Song: 6 – Made some mistakes Alex but an overall good performance in the middle of the pitch.

Wilshere: 6,5 – Brilliant start to the half, including a great run in the 54th minute ended up with Aaron Ramsey’s blocked effort. Faded a little in the final part of the game.

Ramsey: 7 – Could have done better in the aforementioned 54th minute move but was very lively in the middle of the pitch the Welshman. Let’s face it, if Cesc departs Samir will be used in a central position but it’s nice to have Aaron as a possible possible as well.

Miyaichi: 6,5 – We pushed more from the right so Ryo was rarely used but when he was called into action he was not shy to take on his man and create importance chances such as in the 77th minute when he did well to set up Theo who headed high.

Walcott: 6,5 – Granted, he missed a lot and a lot of chances but he put himself in very good positions and if he learns how to conclude we will have a devastating weapon on the right.

Chamakh: 5,5 – Not impressed. Although he was more determined than last Wednesday I still feel that he was the most disappointing player this week and needs to wake up. Quickly.