Arriving from current Ligue 1 champions Lille last summer for a reported £10.5 million, Gervinho is nearing the end of his first full season as an Arsenal player.
So there is no better time to ask that all important question which will surely get a few of you out there debating – Has he impressed?
The 24-year-old has featured a total of 31 times for the Gunners (25 in the Premier League), with three league fixtures left to play. The Ivorian has managed o find the back of the net on four occasions and has bagged seven assists along the way.
Gervinho has bags of pace, is a tricky forward to play against and is considered a direct player who isn’t afraid to take on an opposing defender with his wonderful ball control and dribbling technique. His low centre of gravity helps him produce some dangerous runs down the flank, and his sharp movement, cutting in and out in the final third, causes havoc.
For me, the simple answer to the question I have asked in the title of this article is yes.
Some may strongly disagree with my view, but for a player to come to a new country and a new club with new team-mates, Gervinho has done pretty well for himself, not great but not poorly either.
Yes we can criticize him for his lack of physical strength and his inability to test the opposition goalkeeper, which makes me think to myself, the guy either can’t shoot or is a magnificent team player, as he would rather assist than score.
Whatever the case, Gervinho has managed to cause confusion and mayhem to those he has come up against. He has played a vital role in the front three alongside Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott. At their best, they were no doubt the most feared front trio in the Premier League – creativity and pace on the flanks with a deadly finisher in the middle, you can’t ask for much more than that.
His form has dipped a little since his return from the African Cup of Nations though, but he can only get better from here on in.
Gervinho possesses a lot of potential and with time, the Ivory Cost international could become a great asset for the club.
What do you guys think – Has Gervinho impressed in his first full season at Arsenal, or does he need to step it up next season?
Leave us your thoughts and comments on the matter below
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He has disappointed me in every match I have seen him play. So often he will dribble the ball up to a defender and then lose possession and he can so easily be knocked off balance.
However, this is his first season in the EPL and one must allow him a settling-in period. I expect great things of him next term.
Its only his 1st full season playing in the EPL. Not every new signing hits the ground running. But I have faith in AW decision to sign him. You only need look at how he played whilst at Lille to see he’s got the talent. He just needs the time to adapt. Look at Koscielny- during his first season I thought AW must have been mad to have signed him, but then in his second season he came back a changed man. He had adapted his game and so will Gervinho.
no…absolutely not. HE wont get better because he cannot actually do what oxlade can do and that is produce an end result regularly. He runs into trouble, is too lightweight to upset defenders and has little poise and control to impress from deep. Typical french-based lightweight that cant hack it in the premier league….but wenger loves them!
koscienly is different in that he has a big heart and a physical presence and aggression that is vital in the prem.What let him down was playing alongside the squid and djourou.The “Squid”!!!!! I SUPPOSE HE WILL GET BETTER THEN?????…..joke
He is so much better on Fifa which is incredibly annoying. When we sign podolski Gerv will make a squad player with some lightning pace to mix things up a bit.
This guy is about as much use to Arsenal as an ashtray on a motorbike or in his case a wig on a mans head (ie) his own.
I think he’s a total waste of money for the ten mil we spent on him. 1st touch is terrible, Runs into trouble everytime and can’t shoot.
Any decent offer comes in flog him. Waste of wages.
What a FLOP , only thing he’s got is pace n mayb good feet bt he’s headless he’s got no final ball or final product, I say send him back to Lille as part of a deal for hazard
If you can’t see what he’s capable of yet, you’re blind. Unlike Theo, he’s got round every fullback he’s encountered.
Yeah, lets put him under pressure now Theo’s out shall we?
What games are you watching he has been a total waste of money can’t shoot can’t take on players can’t cross and this pace you say he has are you having a laugh…..
people say that he isnt strong but the thing is he has the physicality to become that. he shoulders are quite broad and he isn’t built like messi that is for sure. I do see him bulking up a lot, so much so it will become a strength to his game. He will probably never be as strong as drogba but i do believe he can possess similar strength again like the article says it is his first year.
Its a huge YES from me, i love this guy and he has done really well despite this being his first season. All he needs is a little time to get his shooting confidence back. At the Chelsea game he could have scored but passed it to Persie, some might say he was sacred to take it..but i say it was totally unselfish and a team goal. I back you Gervinho