Comment: New Arsenal Signing Gervinho – An Ace Up Arsene Wenger’s Sleeve?

However, it would not be wise to judge the renewed prowess of a team by how it fares in meaningless matches in pre-season, when the primary purpose is to get the players back in shape.

The Ivorian winger/striker has already dazzled and made a mark with his immaculate displays in Arsenal’s pre-season match against FC Koln and the Emirates Cup. His first positive contribution in his first game for Arsenal was a clever lob over the FC Koln goalkeeper Michael Rensing which resulted in the first of the two goals, which he scored on his unofficial debut for the Gunners.

Then a mesmerizing display against Boca Juniors saw him beat defenders with consummate ease as well as grab an assist.

His Pace And Skills Will Be An Asset....

Rampant acceleration, close control on the ball, willingness to take on defenders, an innate ability to read the game and make runs behind the opposition’s defence, are some of the attributes that even the most passive of observers could associate with the Ivory Coast Player of the Year.

Gervinho can be effective with either foot and this has provided Arsene Wenger with the option of playing him on either wing. In all the pre-season games which he featured, the 24-year-old was seen everywhere in the attacking third, swiftly swapping positions and even making clever runs behind the centre backs.

This is especially important when one considers the situation at Arsenal in the recent seasons.

Lack of top class wingers in the recent past has slowly but surely led to a style in which the play develops through the middle with intricate passing moves in front of the opposition’s defence and it is the overuse of this tendency that forms the basis of the general criticism against Arsenal of “trying to please the eye a tad too much".

Arsenal Have Been Missing A Player Like Gervinho....

Back in the 2003-2004 Invincibles season, as well in the early years of Wenger's reign, Arsenal were more efficient in turning possession into goal threatening chances due to the presence of pacy and skillful wingers like Marc Overmars, Robert Pires and Freddie Ljungberg.

Recently, the likes of Samir Nasri, Nicklas Bendtner, Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin have been extensively played out of position on the wings, even though clearly all of them are better suited in central roles.

Theo Walcott’s pace seemed to be the answer but his inconsistent form, inability to put an accurate final ball in the box, as well as frequent and long trips to the treatment room proved a major hurdle.

Gervinho’s pace equips Arsene Wenger with what he has lacked in recent seasons and more importantly, provides an outlet to the Arsenal central midfielders, who are more than capable of matching a well timed run with an inch perfect pass.

Only time will tell how good a signing Gervinho turns out to be but he has the qualities to help Arsenal avoid another trophyless season.

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