Gervinho has caught the headlines this summer thanks to his €12 million (£10.5m) move to Arsenal from Lille, but that price-tag will prove to be a bargain for the Gunners if the Ivorian attacker can replicate the kind of form he showed last season in leading Rudi Garcia’s men to the Ligue 1 title.
Though he was eclipsed in terms of exposure by Eden Hazard, the African attacker chalked up a series of more impressive statistics than the young Belgian. Over the course of the campaign the distinctive 24-year-old out-scored and out-assisted the man who went on to win France’s Player of the Season award.
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“He is a help for us to be more dangerous, more of a threat. He is an addition to the Arsenal squad of top quality.“ – Arsene Wenger |
For several years, Gervinho had been watched by some of Europe’s biggest clubs, with Barcelona even being linked to him when he was still making his way with Le Mans. However, a lack of consistency in his final product meant that the real superpowers of the game were dissuaded from taking a gamble on his raw attributes, which were instead allowed to flourish in the calmer environment of northern France.
| MOMENT OF THE SEASON |
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| LIGUE 1: LILLE 1-0 SOCHAUX |
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| In a tense end-of-season clash against in-form Sochaux, Gervinho gave Lille the three points that effectively tied up the title with a smart finish soon after the half-time interval. | |
After a promising first term with Garcia’s side, things finally clicked perfectly for the attacker last season, which was an unmitigated success from start to finish.
Able to frighten defenders with his direct running and sheer pace, the Anyama-born player ran amok in the offensive formation favoured by the Lille coach. Capable of playing on either flank or even through the middle, he mustered 15 goals in total – a new personal best.
But while Gervinho is undoubtedly a talented individual, he does not forget that he is simply one member of an 11-man team. A total of 10 assists were secured for the campaign, including the creation of a last-minute goal in week six of the season to earn his side a 1-0 victory over Auxerre, which was when their season really started to pick up some momentum.
Undoubtedly, the flair-packed winger had a major role to play in Lille’s successful push for the Ligue 1 title, taking the crown back to the city for the first time in over 50 years.
Gervinho proved that he is a resilient figure, too. Not only did he feature in 35 of Lille’s 38 league matches, he was also a regular in their squad for the Europa League and the Coupe de France, guiding les Dogues to a domestic double by starting five of their six cup matches and coming off the bench in the other.
At times he was virtually unplayable. Like Hazard, opposition players were consistently reduced to heavy-handed tactics to thwart his progress. Arguably this provoked the low-point of his campaign in Monaco, when he was sent off early for retaliating after a particularly brutal tackle, but this was very much the exception in a year of success.
The reward Gervinho will enjoy for his efforts is a move to Arsenal, where he will have the opportunity to test himself in the world’s most popular league, playing for one of its most popular teams.
| “Capable of playing on either flank or even through the middle, he mustered 15 goals in total – a new personal best.“ |
If he can provide the same dazzling attacking force for Arsene Wenger’s troops as he did for Lille, he is sure to become a favourite at the Emirates Stadium and earn the widespread recognition his performances of the last year deserve.
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Goal.com 50: Gervinho (43)