Arsenal have reportedly won the race to sign Lille striker Gervinho for around £10 million, according to talkSPORT.
The Ivorian forward, who netted 15 goals in 33 appearances for Lille last season, stated his intention to leave the Ligue 1 champions this summer for the Premier League, and will apparently complete his move to the Emirates within the next few days.
Arsene Wenger managed to fend off competition from Liverpool and Newcastle for the player’s signature, as the Frenchman looks to rebuild his squad this summer.
Johan Djourou will certainly be happy to hear the news, after the Swiss defender acknowledged Gervinho’s ability. He recently stated:
‘I have followed a bit of the French league this season and I have to say Gervinho is a great player.’
‘I have known him for a long time and he is quick, with so much talent and good skills. He is a great, great talent and we need that because he can play as a striker, as a number 10 or on the wing. He has all the ingredients to play for Arsenal, that is a definite.’
To be honest, he is not a player that excites me a lot, but at least the manager is splashing the cash and acquiring new players to bolster our squad for next season’s campaign.
Let’s hope it continues.
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Excellent signing. Bendtner will say he sufferred from being played on the wing when RvP was fit, well this guy is a much better striker and a natural winger so it’d be a huge improvement. He’s a flair player but he gets results and was the most creative player at Lille last season. More assists in less games than Hazard managed. At Arsenal he’ll get more of the ball than at Lille. He won’t go to Newcastle at Liverpool because he’s happy at Lille and they’re in the CL next year so what’d be the point of taking a step down.
@Jon. Falcao is great in the air for his size. I would love to see Wenger sign him, as he is a natural goal scorer, and thats something we lack right now in our team.
Gervinho might actually be a replacement for Rosicky or Nasri, as he can play on the wing as well as a striker.
Whatever the weather, lets just hope that the signings keep coming. New players give the fans and the whole club a lift. COME ON ARSENAL.
I couldnt agree with you more. Though we need an out and out number 9!! Please Wenger get Falcao or Benzema. Bentdner will leave for the same money that Gervinho so they will cancel each other out!
Gervinho is a good playa ?sp?ci?aly on d wing.Even if cesc leaves for spain,i don’t pray nasri leave d ?mirate & d?finitely not 2 manUre. But it seems AW av 4gotten dat gervinho is an African and wil surely b out wit Ivory coast in january 4 d african cup of nations.
Gervinho is a good playa ?sp?ci?aly on d wing.Even if cesc leaves for spain,i don’t pray nasri leave d ?mirate & d?finitely not 2 manUre. But it seems AW av 4gotten dat gervinho is an African and wil surely b out wit Ivory coast in january 4 d african cup of nations.
Better suited to the wing and no.10 role than Bendtner. Also Arshavin will only have a year left next summer so will surely leave then. I believe Cesc will leave this summer and Nasri will re-sign and get a chance to play in his favoured position.
Gaz, falcao is so much shorter than benzema, that was my main point. Benzema is an imposing figure, arsenal need that at the moment.
Looks like my hopes of getting Falcao are fading now that Gervino is on his way to Emirates.
Don`t know about his football skills but if they`re as way out as his hair do then we`re in for some fun. He`ll put the fear of god up the defences.
falcao only scores tap ins and headers like chamak he would be rubbish in the premiership
i really dnt like this dude..all we need nw at arsenal is player like falcao or benzema in attacking force not only dat, i’ll love to see cesc and nasri stays while we sign in players like samba and cahill
Some fans on this website are seriously deluded, Gervinho had more goals and assists than Hazard last season and if you truly followed Ligue 1, you would know he was a better performer than Hazard overall. Just because he doesn’t have flashy dribbling skills doesn’t mean he is any less player. Who were Henry and Viera before the came to Arsenal? You see Arsenal linked with players and you just want them without realizing that recruiting players is really complicated. Please be patient and let Wenger do his thing.
i agree totally but having hazard would be nice we need someone whos a bit greedy and who could be a budget arsenals messi or ronaldo? think about it
i think even though many people will be nervous about signing Gervinho, this is Arsene’s decision and i think i can see why he’s picked this guy as his top target over benzema and falco..
It’s taken Wenger along time to perfect his lone striker formation whether it’s the 4-3-3 with RVP in the centre and two wingers pushing up or the 4-2-3-1 which is almost the same just with the wingers turned into wide attacking midfielders.
Benzema and Falco are both centre forwards, as is RVP (he can be played out the the wing but tbh his best performances have come from being central, just look at this season!) so thats means the formation will be have to changed to a variant of the 4-4-2 formation which again will take time to perfect and for players to become used to. Time us fans aren’t patient enough to endure.
Gervinho is a centre forward like Benzema and Falco, but he can also effectively play out on the RW position due to his vast pace and dribbling skills, this means that we won’t have to changed drastically to welcome him as a new signing we can just switch back to 4-3-3 and rotate him in games with subs such as Theo, Vela and Arshavin (if they stay..) or a new winger signing such as Downing, Hazard (god yes) or Nasri (if he stays).