With The African Cup of Nations due to end in three weeks time or so, Gervinho will be making a return to the Emirates, where Marouane Chamakh will also be waiting in the wings. After the results of late and the fans now adopting Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain as a new favourite, it leads to the question – what will happen when Gervinho returns? Will Arsene Wenger decide to drop the exciting youngster in favour of the Ivorian?
I actually had the pleasure of being at the Emirates yesterday afternoon and for me Chamberlain was brilliant. The 18-year-old has an abundance of pace and a great work ethic. In addition, the former Saints winger seems to bring out the best in Theo Walcott, who himself had a blinder, assisting with three of Arsenal’s seven goals.
It is quite easy to simply shrug this off with a simple ‘no’, Wenger shouldn’t drop Chamberlain. However, we need to bear in mind that he is still only young and learning. Chambo has also had a few niggling knee injuries, so I suspect Arsene will have a hard decision on his hands than some of the fans give him credit for.
Gervinho, currently at the African Cup of Nations with the Ivory Coast, was brought in from Lille in the summer to play in the role that is currently being occupied by Chamberlain. However, the youngster has done brilliantly since the Ivorian departed and yesterday bagged his first two Premier League goals for Arsenal.
Since joining Arsenal, Gervinho has managed to make 24 appearances, scoring 4 goals along the way, while Chambo has made 12 appearances and bagged 4 goals for the Gunners.
On paper it also looks like Chamberlain’s record is slightly better, but this is partly due to Arsenal playing better earlier on in the season when Gervinho got his games.
IF Wenger decides to drop Chamberlain then the Frenchman will come under great scrutiny from the fans and maybe some of the players. We have already seen it happen this season when Robin van Persie and the Arsenal fans questioned Wenger’s decision to substitute him against Manchester United a few weeks back, so we can only imagine how it would go down if Chambo is dropped.
In my eyes, the Ox deserves a run in the first-team. It doesn’t matter if Gervinho is back or not. However, Wenger is known for protecting young talent and would not want him to suffer the same fate as Jack Wilshere has this season after playing over 40 games last term for us.
So the question of should/will Arsene drop Alex is a very difficult one to answer. Walcott could also be in trouble to keep his position, but it seems Wenger has faith in the 22-year-old speedy winger. Is Chamberlain essential to the squad’s success? I think so. He seems to bring out the best in certain players, which is good to see. But I would hate for him to be over-used and end up injured as a result.
I for one do not envy Wenger’s decision. No doubt the fans will want Chamberlain to play every game and no one can fault them for that. Let’s just hope that he continues to grow and develop as a player as the games roll by.
Do you think Wenger will drop AOC in favour of Gervinho? Do you think the youngster should be a starting for us week in, week out?
Give us your thoughts on the matter
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Knowing what a senile old prick Wenger is Im sure he will drop the ox. In fact when Chamakh comes back I wouldn’y be shocked if he got a game before Chamberlain!! Anything is possible when it comes to Wenger!!
Show some respect you fucking chav
I second that… Show some respect you twatt…. And to the writer… Alex will play, gervinho will play, theo will play, Coq will play… Future is bright… Also.. Song is safe.. Arteta, Sagna, TV, Kol and Woj are all safe plus the captain! All other players will only get in as rotation is needed! Include BFG.
Been following The Arsenal past 42 years, first game I went to was when I was 7. Been living the expat life past 15b years but always make sure I fly back to watch at least a dozen games each season. I do very well in life, in fact, extremely well.
Arsene Wenger is a deluded cunt. If he gets a claw hammer to his face, he’s got away very lightly. The paedo deserves the skin taken off his face, his head taken off his shoulders and me shitting down his neck.
Is that chavvy enough for you, you muggy cunt???!!!
Put yer handbag away darlin, no one gives a shit about yer life story. Ya might as well fuck off and support Utd with that attitude. No one has done for English football than AW and its dick ‘eds like you that are ruining it. Fly home and don’t come back. Arsenal doesn’t care for you support.
i think wenger will drop walcot and play chambo and gerv in wings
If Wenger aint daft,he should stick with Ox.He has made many tactical blunders in the past.Tactically his attacking style is easy to counter.
I expect Oneill will give him a stiff test.If the gunners try to weave a way thru a crowded box,he will play into Sunderland’s hand.
Gervinho is from the French league so will be straight back in the team for AOC when he returns. This of course will be totally illogical and counterproductive, but that’s Wenger all over.
Another idiotic commebnt. At last Ae will be able to rotate AOC,TW and G without risking over exposure of AOC. TW and JW are prime examples of too much too soon. In Arsene we have the master, especially of bringing through young players.
Y dreaming of harzad n gotze we u have ox?….wenger must thnk
korri, we need either of those,Hazard/Gotze, walcott is unpredictable (high today nd very low tmrrow), Gervinho is selfish nd has a poor final ball(be it pass or goal..so we need a player of that calibre who can help if Ox picks an injury(u knw our players are injury prune)
Gervinho’s final pass is good mate
i think that gervinho will play instead of walcott!!!!
the Ox & the ivorian from rio de genero will make a perfect match on the flanks, with the english horse coming in later to tear apart tired defence…. go on gunners; its pistols in the air!
Jus play him in the middle in fabs old role . Play gerv and theo wide and give the ox the freedom in the middle . Rambo has struggled,Rosicky ain’t really got a goal in him . So why not try it ??? I’m a genius !
i want AW to play the ox and gervinho together and RVP at the centre,
I guess the obvious is to actually go back 442 . Gerv and ox wide , theo up top with rvp behind in the Denis role. Cm arteta and rambo to be replaced with jack eventually. We ain’t won a thing playing 433 time to change it