Presse Sports-USA TODAY Sports
Gervinho has played at Arsenal FC since 2011, but the Ivory Coast international has officially moved on from the Gunners to play for AS Roma in Serie A. The 26-year-old striker passed his medical examination on Thursday and will be joining Roma for a transfer fee of £8 million next season.
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger bought Gervinho from Lille OSC for a reported fee of £10.5 million in 2011, so it looks like Arsenal actually lost £2.5 million with Gervinho’s sale to Roma.
It was clear that the Ivorian’s time would eventually be up at Arsenal after he failed to solidify himself into the starting lineup, but a reunion with former Lille manager Rudi Garcia at Roma may be exactly what the forward needs to recover his once consistent performances. After all, it was inconsistent finishing that plagued Gervinho in the Premier League. He scored only nine goals in his 45 appearances with the Gunners, but you would think that his superb speed and dribbling ability should be giving him better statistics and the option to play as a midfielder on the wing. However, he mostly played as a striker for Arsenal.
At Roma, if Garcia can bring Gervinho back into his old form, the manager may have found himself a vital piece to his attack, a player who can score goals and also assist teammates.
Argentine forward Erik Lamela seems like the perfect forward to pair with Gervinho at the wings, as Lamela shows incredible pace and dribbling skill. He has started on the right wing for Roma, and the 21-year-old really likes to move into the middle of the pitch to spur his team’s attack. Last year, he had his best season, scoring 15 goals in 33 games. With Lamela starting at the right wing position in Garcia’s 4-3-3 direct setup, Gervinho, instead of playing striker, could appear more naturally on the left wing. This arrangement could help Gervinho re-establish his talents.
Look out for Gervinho in Serie A.
