Winners
Leandro Trossard
I am not sure why, but a couple of weeks ago I read some Arsenal fans questioning the future of Leandro Trossard.
It baffled me, and I still don’t understand the point they were making.
It was something about him not being good enough for us. Not quick enough to play on the wing, not technical enough to play inside and not strong enough to play up top.
With 3 goals in America, he comes home as our “top scorer” for this stage of pre-season.
Trossard is the Mr Versatile in our attack.
He provides brilliant cover and competition for Gabriel Martinelli, can also cover Bukayo Saka and is an option in the middle both as a number 9 and someone to play deeper.
This season Trossard will be a super sub. He has the ability to change a game from the bench.
In America, he showed his fabulous ball striking from the edge of the area. You can certainly see him making an impact to help unlock deep defence.s.
Kai Havertz
He started the tour of America by being kicked by Arsenal fans for his performance in a charity skills challenge.
It was clear to anyone with a brain that he was taking it easy so that Arsenal did not run away with the competition.
In actual games of football, he showed what he is all about.
He did struggle early on as he adapts to Mikel Arteta’s way of playing, but the way he performed against Barcelona shows that he is improving at a rapid rate.
Havertz was influential in that game, a controlling force on the left hand side, and scored a great poachers goal. Granit Xhaka would not have been in the position Havertz was at that far post to tap in.
The German will only grow and get better. He will prove himself to be a fantastic option when we want to be more attacking.
Bukayo Saka
Missed penalty aside, Bukayo Saka was the best player on the pitch everytime he was out there.
If anyone thought last season was just a hot streak, then they are in for a rude awakening.
Saka looks to have added even more to his game, and he is now up there with Mo Salah for his ability to come in off the left and strike the ball.
When he cuts in on the left, he can bend it into the far top corner, or roll it into the bottom. He can smash it hard to the near post or clip over a cross for a teammate. This will keep goal keepers guessing and in that split second of hesitation Saka has scored.
By the end of this season, there will be no discussion. Saka will be the best right winger in the world.
Losers
Olexsandr Zinchenko
Zinny is clearly a wonderful football, but he failed to play a minute in America due to injury.
Last season he had two extended spells on the sidelines with calf problems. Throughout his Manchester City career he has always had niggling problems.
I was concerned when we signed him if he had the “man strength” to play a full Premier League campaign. He had never played more than 1500 minutes in a single Premier League season.
He played 2135 Premier League minutes last season, missing close to 40% of the game time.
Zinchenko’s injuries are a worry and he is not starting this season in a positive manner.
Kieran Tierney
Despite Zinchenko not playing a single game, our other left back in the squad also failed to start a game.
Kiwior, Tomiyasu and Timber all started the 3 US games at left back. Tierney was off the bench on all 3.
Now I get that pre-season is about trying new things out, but you would think our 2nd choice left back would have started at least one game.
Has his lack of starts shown that he is set to leave? And what Arteta was doing was looking at the options to replace him as back up left back this season?
Folarin Balogun
Flo would have been hoping for a staring role in the country of his birth.
He is all about building this “all-American hero” persona, for marketing purposes of course.
Balogun did not see a second of play time during the trip to America. That will disappoint him considering he made the decision to abandon his country for this summers Gold Cup.
He put himself before his nation to focus on pre-season and put himself in the shop window for a big summer move.
Instead, he failed to play a minute in the two more competitive games and when asked why he was not playing, Arteta was short and sharp in his response: “he first needs to be fit and available to play minutes.”
There have been no reports about Balogun being injured, so you have to assume that it is a conditioning issue.
I do not think he will get the big move he hopes for. He will end up at West Ham, Crystal Palace or Fulham. Maybe even a move to Spurs to replace Harry Kane?
So there we have it, our 3 winners and losers from the tour of America.
Ultimately, you can not read a huge amount into individual performances as you never know where a player is in their fitness and development.
On Wednesday we are back in Islington for the game against Monaco, before our final friendly of the season against Manchester City at Wembley.
Have a good Friday.
Keenos
She Wore A Yellow Ribbon 
Arteta reported that Balogun had a minor foot injury. Training solo with a coach, as Zinchenko is.
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