Published: 3 August, 2013
by PAUL COWLING at the Emirates Stadium
Arsenal 2, Napoli 2

ARSENAL fans faced with elevator closures and warnings of 90 minute waits at two local transport hubs after this evening's match, will still have gone away happy after seeing their side come back from 2 goals down in this entertaining Emirates Cup tie.

Arsenal were the better team, deserved their draw, and should have won but for a  penalty miss from Lukas Podolski, whose shot was saved by one-time Gunners target, Pepe Reina. Reina, on-loan from Liverpool, excelled throughout.

The Italian visitors – a week behind the Gunners with their own pre-season preparations – swept into a two-goal lead thanks to woeful Arsenal defending – Karl Jenkinson's howler allowed Lorenzo Insigne to make it 1-0 after 7 minutes, while more static defending allowed Goran Pandev to stab home the second on 28.

Both goals were against the run of play, as Arsenal passed fast and kept possession without that cliché cutting edge that a signing like Gonzalo Higuain could have made in the match, and for the season.

Higuain – now having signed for Napoli – was the second half pantomine villain. The Argentine had a quiet afternoon, but was met with boos from the near full house and loud cheers when Laurent Koscielny twice tackled him with ease. 

Olivier Giroud – now a target for the Neopolitans – scored with a low bicycle kick on 72 minutes to reduce the arrears, and then Koscielny was on hand to head in from close range after Reina had parried Mertesacker's header four minutes from time.

After the match, Arsene Wenger spoke of the potential of first team debutant Serge Gnabry.

"Of course I want to give experience to young players (like Gnabry)."

The 18-year-old German was a bright spark on the right in the first half, and with more composure could have bagged a brace of goals, although
the Stuttgart-born forward showed he's not short of confidence, when he had Reina scrambling with an audacious lob from 35 yards out.

There was only one real question asked of Wenger, but the Frenchman was playing a straight bat over talk of a possible Luiz Suarez transfer. 

His reply was, like before, of doing things amicably, and needing the agreement of the player and the club, and to agree a fee.

"It's like you go to your neighbour and say: 'I want to buy your house, so get out tomorrow morning.' "He will not necessarily be happy about it", explained Wenger.

Wenger pointed out what he sees in his existing squad: "We focus on the players we have, and we can still win the title.' 

Arguably, some Arsenal fans would tell you there was better news with confirmation that the futures of Gervinho and Marouane Chamakh would be settled in the next 48 hours.

"These will be permanent deals," said Wenger. But, where they are to go, the Frenchman wouldn't say. 

On the future of Nicklas Bendtner, Wenger was less sure: "At the moment he (Bendtner) is completely here."

With the wage bill slashed Gunner fans are desperate for Wenger to splash the cash, but the pool of quality players is diminishing fast.

Higuain was one target. He might have had an off day, but he is still Arsenal's loss.

• Tomorrow the Gunners take on Galatasary who head the tournament following their deserved 1-0 victory over FC Porto.

Arsenal: Fabianski, Jenkinson (Sagna), Mertesacker, Koscielny, Gibbs; Ramsey (Oxlade-Chamberlain), Wilshere (Arteta), Rosicky, Podolski, Gnabry (Walcott), Giroud