Goodbye Gervinho: Ivorian forward signs for Roma in £6.9m deal
Gervinho has joined Italian giants Roma for £6.9million.
The 26-year-old ends a relatively unsuccessful two year spell in north London with Arsenal and will now be reunited with former coach Rudi Garcia who managed him at Lille.
Ivory Coast international Gervinho, who cost the Gunners almost £11m when he arrived from Lille in 2011, was sent off on his Premier League debut against Newcastle after slapping then-Magpies midfielder Joey Barton.
The former Le Mans and Beveren forward found goals hard to come by last season after falling behind Olivier Giroud, Theo Walcott and Lukas Podolski in the pecking order.
He played in 26 games last season, which included 18 Premier League matches, although the majority came from off the bench.
Arsenal’s intentions to strengthen their forward line this summer would have made his future at the club even more certain, with Liverpool striker Luis Suarez currently Arsene Wenger’s main transfer target.
Meanwhile, Moroccan striker Marouane Chamakh looks set to complete a permanent move to newly-promoted Crystal Palace after the Gunners agreed a nominal fee with Ian Holloway’s side.
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Chris Wheatley
Editor and founder of Gooner Talk. Former Arsenal correspondent for Goal.
our squad is frighteningly weak.
All fine and well selling deadwood and squad players, but if you’re going to do that then at least replace them. Very worrying.
Gervinho started the season well but his form evaporated,his departure result in more gamtime for Podolski, Ox-Chambo and maybe Miyaichi and Gnabry on the left, assuming Cazorla doesn’t play there.
Good bye Gervinho another once is chamakh .Bendtner and Diaby and we need to add 3 qulity players like . Willam . Fellaini and Suarez
Arsenal have sing creative out and out Defensive midfilder
After stomping our feet about the deadwood in the team, there is a certain joy to find them now being prodded out. But Gervinho was still a warm body on the bench. Who are we going to replace him with? Gnabry?
Arsenal have been linked with no wingers and it doesn’t look like Bernard was ever an option.
P.S: I hope Serge turns out to be good and makes me eat my words, which I will if you give me enough mustard.
We need strenth our squad first than sell regular player ,Gervinho at least a rotate player.
Echoing what was said in the first response, our squad depth is a serious concern. People saying we are “one or two” or “two to three” signings off challenging for honours are being naive. We have approximately 18 senior players – some of whom don’t even need to be registered due to complying with home grown legislations – it seems a waste not to build as big and strong a squad as possible within financial and registration constraints, of course. We need AT least 4, ideally 5 or 6 additions in order to be able to compete on all four fronts. A GK, a CB, a DM, a versatile CAM, a winger (left or both sided) plus a world class striker. Sanogo doesn’t count towards filling one of those 5 or 6 spots. I wish people would have more imagination that just regurgitating seemingly false paper rumours that keep coming up, regards Fellaini and Williams especially. Cesar is a deal that makes sense, but we have absolutely no indication that the club is or have ever been interested.
Its clowns like the ones on this sight that have no clue about football have ruined many a good players confidence and seen them on their way for FUN you lot don’t what your looking at this player will show he’s top draw but not in front of arsenal so called fans and he will be far far better off
Strength in depth is essential in a though season ahead. Gervinho and Arshavin made a decent amount of appearances last season. We can’t rely on Gnarby an Miyaichi for the full season. I wonder if Wenger is considering playing Cazorla on the LW permenantly?
I’d rather have Gabry or Miyaichi playig tha Gervinho or Arshavin, you know the 1st 2 re going to improve. Arshavin’s best days are behind him and Gervinho wasn’t consistent enough. IN terms of signing i just want to see a top striker (Suarez) and a DM, maybe one that could cover CB as a 4th option. In an ideal world we’d add 5/6 player but that’s not happening this window. Give Wenger time, he signed Monreal on the last day of the last window.
Arsenal don’t need wingers at all and if we Sign a DM he’ll probably partner Arteta with Wilshere moving up to AM and Cazorla on the left.
Arsene Wenger is sick and useless, this the time for Arsenal to let him go. since the transfer window,Arsenal fans have nothing to smile about. waiting for deadline day.
Unfortunately the glaring misses will continue to haunt me till I die. Shocking.
I still think Frimpong should be given a go. Otherwise its the same old lack of ambition we have had since David Rein was sacked. Time for serious shake up. From the top down.
Squad depth is an issue to some extent but be honest… bar Gervinho (debatable)…if you saw any one of the players who have been sold/left this summer playing for Arsenal next season would you have been happy, hopeful, positive? Not a chance!!!
Fact is bar Bendtner, Park and Chamakh (hopefully not long to go)we have let go ALL our deadwood. That is a serious positive, it concentrates our talent, allows for more peripheral players like Ox, Jenk, Rosicky, more game time and thus show what they can do in a more consistent manner. It also opens the doors to new players.
What matters is we have managed to do the impossible, offload the majority of fund sucking wasters. Even if we dont manage to strengthen properly this summer, we will have that bit more money next summer. Fact is we havent lost anything so far, we have only allowed younger talent a better chance of shining and tbh, they have a chance for a better future in comparison to ANY player who we have sold or has left.
Having a look at the Arsenal website we have 22 first teams players (this exclude Gerv, Cham, Nick the Great and Park but include Diaby and Frimpong, and exlucdes our 3rd choice goalie). So with a third choice goalie we have about 23 first teamers and thats about right I think. I think though counting on Diaby, Frimpong and Ryo is a little optimistic so I’d say we about 2-3 short.
Now really worried. Selling players is fine, releasing deadwood is fine but where’s the replacements????wheres the quality???
Im kinda getting tired of being lied to by the clubs management.Every year same story…we have money yada yada yada. And every year same thing players are sold and players of less quality are brought in.After 10 years of this we only have 2 players that anyone else really wants. I’m considering not watching premier league this year, because even if we get the “big name” player that the club wants, hes a guy i have zero respect for. He brings the game and the club he represents into disrepute. Serial diver, serial biter but i will never get past the World cup incident, that says it all for me.