Wenger blasts Mancini after China friendly

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger lashed out at rival clubs on Saturday for breaking "basic rules" by openly chasing his star players in incidents that have overshadowed the Gunners' pre-season tour of Asia. Wenger showed his anger when he was questioned about Manchester City manager Roberto Mancini's comments after Arsenal's 1-1 draw against Hangzhou Greentown in China on Saturday. As Arsenal were taking to the pitch in China, at home, Mancini broke the unwritten code of talking about another club's player, saying he aimed to sign Arsenal's Samir Nasri before the end of July. "These comments are not allowed," Wenger said. "They are against the basic rules of football and Roberto Mancini should be informed." "What we want is respect - we will not comment on footballers at other clubs. It's time football in England came back within basic rules." Asked if he felt he had been disrespected, Wenger answered: "I cannot say otherwise. This comment is absolutely out of order." In a similar incident earlier this week Barcelona published comments about Gunners captain Cesc Fabregas wanting to leave for the Camp Nou. Barcelona midfielder Xavi took to the Spanish giants' website to say Fabregas was unhappy and wanted to return to the club he supported as a boy. Despite the transfer controversies, Wenger said the Asian tour had been positive and had been a good bonding exercise, as they received a rock stars' reception from supporters everywhere they went. The Frenchman said he was impressed by "how much Arsenal is loved here in Asia, how much the Premier League has penetrated Asia and how much in China and in Malasyia -- especially in China -- football is starting to become really popular." In Saturday's match, Hangzhou Greentown's Sebastian Vasquez put the home side ahead in the seventh minute after some sustained early pressure on the Arsenal goal. Carlos Vela equalised in first-half injury time to spare the Gunners' blushes and despite changing gears in the second half they were unable to come away with a win. Arsenal were in China for the first time since a pre-season friendly match in Beijing in 1995. On the second stop of their Asian tour, they played in Yiwu, 285 kilometres (180 miles) south of Shanghai, a market city best known for supplying Britain's high street budget stores -- known as 'pound shops'. Wenger admitted his side found the Chinese Super League team tougher than expected. "I was surprised by the level of the Chinese team tonight," Wenger told reporters after the game. Arsenal turned up the pressure after half-time but despite several efforts led by Theo Walcott were unable to pull ahead. The Gunners have trained in Austria every summer since 2001, but travelled to Asia this year to expand the club's brand and fan base in the lucrative market. Arsenal were due to return to Europe on Saturday night.