Arsene Wenger was impressed by Napoli in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal and confirmed Gervinho’s advanced talks with Roma.
“It was a good game overall. It had a good pace against a good side. Napoli is a good side,” said the manager in his Press conference.
Arsene Wenger was impressed by Napoli in a 2-2 draw with Arsenal and confirmed Gervinho’s advanced talks with Roma.
“It was a good game overall. It had a good pace against a good side. Napoli is a good side,” said the manager in his Press conference.
“They finished second in the league in Italy last year. They are very good at counter-attacking. I feel overall during the 90 minutes that we played very well going forward. It took us some time to adjust defensively.
“It was as well a mental test because we were 2-0 down against such a good team to come back to 2-2. It was very interesting for us.
“I think our defence in the second half played very well. Defensively in the first half we gave too much distance to their players, we marked them from too big a distance and we shortened up a little bit in the second half. Our distances between the lines was shorter and we played higher up and overall we did very well on that.
“I think Napoli are a very good side. Very well organised. I like what they did in midfield. You could see that this team plays for a few years together. Marek Hamsik was especially dominant in the first half.
“They gave us big problems there. Overall they are compact, united and a very well-organised team that is very good.”
Gonzalo Higuain made his Napoli debut at the Emirates, facing the club he almost joined this summer.
“What can you do if every player I don't buy scores a goal and suddenly it is a disaster? They do not have to stop to play because they go somewhere else,” shrugged Wenger when asked about Arsenal’s failed bid.
“Higuain is a good player. If he had scored today, he would have scored today and it wouldn’t have changed my mind.”
Wenger also commented on the reports that Gervinho is on the verge of an €8m transfer to Roma.
“For Gervinho, we are at the moment close to an agreement with a club where he should go.”