Arsenal FC: Winners and Losers at the Emirates Cup

Galatasaray have beaten Arsenal to lift the Emirates Cup at the Emirates Stadium. Didier Drogba, so often the bane of Arsene Wenger, returned to haunt the Gunners as his late quickfire brace handed the trophy to the Istanbul-based side. 

Arsenal had drawn with Rafael Benitez's Napoli in the first game of the mini-tournament while Galatasaray had beaten FC Porto in the other game. That set up a finale whereby the Gunners and the Cimbom faced off to lift the trophy.

The result seemed academic, with many columnists, analysts and Gunners fans expecting a win.

Unfortunately, Drogba and Co. failed to read the script.

Here, Bleacher Report takes a look at Arsenal's winners and losers from the 2013 Emirates Cup.

Winner: The Running Man

The biggest winner of the Emirates Cup was easily the Running Man.

The world-famous Vietnamese Arsenal fan earned his nickname after he ran alongside the Gunners' team bus for five miles during the club's recent tour of the Far East. So inspired, amazed and amused were Arsenal's team that they stopped the bus and brought the awe-struck fan on board.

This week the club went one better and flew the Running Man all the way from Vietnam as their guest of honor for the Emirates Cup, according to John Drayton of the Daily Mail.

It was an amazing gesture by the club and one they deserve huge praise for. 

Loser: Arsene Wenger

In no way, shape or form could Arsene Wenger be considered anything but a loser after the Emirates Cup.

Following the Gunners' 2-2 draw with Napoli, Le Prof told the awaiting media, according to ESPN, that his current team were good enough to win the Premier League.

"Yes, of course. I am confident [about winning the title]," he said. "Why should I sit here and say to you we can absolutely not win the title with the players we have?"

This nugget came in the aftermath of a good comeback from two goals down against a new-look Napoli side. However, the comeback came in the aftermath of the Gunners being booed off at half-time.

The following day he sent out a side against Galatasaray and saw his fans outsung by a fervent away support, his team outplayed and outfoxed for periods, and 35-year-old Didier Drogba cause no end of problems for his defense.

Winner: Laurent Koscielny

Few Arsenal players came out of the Emirates Cup with any real distinction. However, there can be little doubt that Laurent Koscielny was the Gunners' best player.

From tanking into Gonzalo Higuain in a thunderous tackle to scoring the equalizer against Napoli to leading and playing like a captain, Koscielny was everything to all Arsenal men.

He played the entire match against Napoli and was then left on the bench against Galatasaray, where his absence was sorely felt.

The very fact that he was left out of the second match shows just how Arsene Wenger values him and how important he will be next season.

Loser: Per Mertesacker

Two games played—one as captain—and four goals conceded does not a great tournament make for Per Mertesacker.

The giant German looked rusty against Napoli in the first game and did not shoulder the responsibility he was expected to carry against Galatasaray.

Arsene Wenger chose to go with an experimental-looking defense featuring Kieran Gibbs, Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Mertesacker. The German international of 90 caps and captain the previous day, Mertesacker was expected to lead the defense.

Instead, it was the ultra-professional Sagna who showed that responsibility while playing out of position.

The end result of Mertesacker's inaction and Koscielny's exclusion was that Jenkinson looked out of his depth at times, and that Gibbs was frequently caught out of position.

Loser: Olivier Giroud

Olivier Giroud may have scored a bundle of goals in the Far East friendlies and an overhead against Napoli, but he hardly set the world alight during the Emirates Cup.

The Frenchman has responded well to recent speculation about Luis Suarez, but all that good work counted for naught in judging his display over the two games.

As is often the case with certain players, they struggle under the burden of expectation. That is why Giroud was so effective in Asia. He was basically playing for the enjoyment and against opposition who could not hurt him.

Indeed, last season, Arsene Wenger even left Giroud out of the team in an effort to take away some of the pressure he was under.

During the Emirates Cup he was less effective as a player because he was playing under greater pressure. 

If anything, Suarez's signing could potentially release him from his personal shackles. 

Winner: Luis Suarez

Luis Suarez.

Arsenal needs him.

In the aftermath of Arsenal's Emirates Cup game against Napoli, Arsene Wenger admitted to the media, according to ESPN, that the club had put in a bid for the Liverpool striker.

Then, in a strange comment, he suggested that Arsenal did not need Luis Suarez to win the Premier League.

This current Arsenal team are not good enough to win a Mickey Mouse tournament like the Emirates Cup, never mind the League Cup, FA Cup, Premier League or the Champions League.

Signing a player like Suarez would definitely be a step in the right direction, and there is little doubt that they need someone with the Uruguayan's creativity, tenacity, and clinical precision in front of goal.

Spend that money, Arsene.