WTTGT Writer: Bryan Waters
Born in Anyama, Ivory Coast, Gervais Yao Kouassi arrived on the 27th May in 1987. He spent his youth career at the famed ASEC Abdijan academy in the West African country of Ivory Coast, where he received the name ‘Gervinho’ as a moniker from a Brazilian coach at the facility. He moved to Belgian side, Beveren and then French side, Le Mans before his £5m switch to Lille in 2009.
The 24 year old’s first season at LOSC (Lille) resulted in a 13 goal windfall to propel the club into the top four. Last season’s tally of 15 helped Lille win the French league and cup double and prompted his reported £10.6m transfer to Arsenal earlier this week.
Gervinho is a seasoned Ivory Coast international with 27 caps from his career and he was captain of the 2008 Summer Olympics squad, where the nation reached the quarter-finals.
How does he like to play?
Gervinho’s preferred role is either a second striker or as part of a three man forward line. The latter role is where he consistently featured for Lille last season and to tremendous effect. His direct attacking play and frightening pace should be able to strike fear in hearts of Premier League defenders.
For Lille, the Ivorian traditionally played on the right-hand-side of the front three and likes to cut inside onto his left foot where he’d unleash his efforts on goal; strikes that contain fierce power. His physical stature is slightly diminutive for the physicality of English football, but his trickery and ingenuity will provide the basis for the 24 year old to work on his strength in the Arsenal gym over pre-season.
Gervinho’s stands at 5”9’, so he may not be an imposing threat in the air but will feed off the use of a strong front striker, using his pace to get in behind defenders. This accommodates the Arsenal game of intricate passing behind an opponent’s backline and Gervinho’s assists tally will be sensational in this particular Gunners side.
What would he bring to the Emirates Stadium?
Judging on Arsenal boss Arsène Wenger’s tactics last season, Gervinho would be drafted in to the right-hand-side of the Gunners’ line-up in a probable 4-3-3 formation. His pace is not as quick as Arsenal winger Theo Walcott, but his skill factor and craft are significantly better than the young Englishman’s and will ultimately result in improved passing play towards the main Arsenal striker in Robin Van Persie.
Gervinho will also match Walcott in terms of a direct approach and his goalscoring tally of 15 last season will provide Arsenal with another threat going forward. Couple this flair with Van Persie’s 18 goals [last season], who was the out-and-out leader in the Gunners’ scoring charts followed by Samir Nasri’s 10, and 9 from Theo Walcott, Arsenal certainly have signed a talent.
Another aspect of Gervinho’s game comes in his unselfish play, culminating in assists. This is surely what attracted Wenger his way, as the Gunners like to move the ball and create chances as a team.
Did you know?
Gervinho hates going out to parties and nightclubs and would much rather prefer a night at home on the Playstation with his friends or getting some well-deserved rest. That belief will stand him in good stead within the Premier League, but he could be tested with the talents that London has to offer.
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