Arsene Wenger hoping for Gervinho to return to Arsenal in form after firing Ivory Coast to the Africa Cup of Nations final

Arsene Wenger has praised Gervinho's performances for Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations and hopes the winger can replicate his form when he returns to Arsenal.

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The former Lille midfielder scored his country's winning goal in their semi-final against Mali and will now go into Sunday's final confident of a win against minnows Zambia.

"It was a cracking goal against Mali," Wenger told the club's official website.

"They were the better side but he made the difference. They scored only one goal, Gervinho made it and you can basically say he scored it on his own because he started on the halfway line and finished in a cool way."

Wenger was happy to see Gervinho in confident form as he begins to prepare his side for the season's run-in, with a Champions League tie against AC Milan in his thoughts.

The Gunners also currently sit sixth in the Premier League table, three points off fourth-placed Chelsea, and will have to improve if they are to enter European competition next season.

And Wenger is keen for the Ivorian to return if he can maintain his performance levels shown for his nation in recent weeks.

He continued: "Sometimes he rushes his decisions a little bit but I was very happy that he kept calm and finished in a very controlled way.

"That's great news for his confidence and his country as well because I believe they are the best team in Africa by a big distance at the moment. Hopefully they will get rewarded in the final.

"He creates those dangerous situations but the coolness he misses a little bit. That can help him to do that. I feel he proved that with us."