Wenger – Gervinho is the new Van Persie!
Arsene Wenger has often told the story about how he convinced the Arsenal winger Robin Van Persie to move into the centre-forward role, and Robin himself has revealed that he wasn’t sure if he had the confidence to become an out-and-out goalscorer.
Well we all know how that turned out, and now Wenger believes that the same situation is happening now with Gervinho, who has rewarded him with five goals in five games since his switch to the centre. Wenger has today revealed how this came about. He was asked if he had the idea of using Gervinho as a striker when he bought him. “Honestly, no, I did not always think he could play this role when I bought him,” said Wenger. “I thought he was a wide player but I discovered using him in training sometimes through the middle. His runs and his movement were interesting.
“Of course there was a big question mark about his finishing, but he has improved on that front.
“Sometimes the players create their own obstacle in their head and when they start to score, they think ‘oh I can score as well’. It becomes natural for them.”
Both Gervinho and Van Persie are hardly looking like a traditional English centre-forward, but Wenger obviously saw something else in their style of playing. “Let’s say at the start it was not obvious,” he said. “If you look at their frames, at their kind of play – it’s not obvious that they will be comfortable up there.
“We have all the idea of a central striker to be strong, tall, combative. To put a player in like van Persie, who was a more technical player or a player like Gervinho who is a more mobile player, you are always a bit ‘oh that doesn’t work’ when confronted with the image we have of a real centre forward. But you can only try and let the efficiency decide that.”
I have to admit that I was very dubious when Wenger first experimented with Gervinho up front, but yet again we all have to bow down to the Frenchman’s superior knowledge of his players. As usual, Arsene Knows Best!
Let’s hope Gervinho carries on his scoring spree this afternoon…..
Let’s hope Gervinho will be the one to fill in van Who?’s shoes …. Let Wenger do this magic once again!!!!
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
35 
2
Thierry Henry Winger to Striker – Turned world class
RVP winger to striker – Turned world class
Gervinho winger to striker – Will he follow the trend?
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
45 
0
I think Giroud should play today though, we usually need height against Alladyce’s teams
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
34 
2
Gervinho is a good player but not a striker. I think he would dominate every team on the right. When he’s on the left he always to cut inside and use his right. That means everytime he beats a player he has to cut back so the defender has time to get back. If he is on the right, once he beats the player, that’s it. The defender is not catching him.
Opinions divided. What do you think?
6 
14
Gervinho has quite some distance to go before he can be compared to Henry and Van Persie but he is doing all the right things. 5 goals in 7 games is nothing to laugh at. Sure he is inconsistent and sometimes frustrating but he is always dangerous. His work rate as well is on par with Tevez, Saurez, etc.
My team when everyone is fit:
Shez
Sagna Mert TV5/Kos Gibbs
Arteta
Diaby Wilshere
Gerv/Ox/Theo Santi(Cutting in like Pires)
Podolski
Opinions divided. What do you think?
6 
12
His dribbling skills are magnificent. It’s a matter of time before he fully establishes himself in to that position. He will obviously follow in footsteps of Henry and RVP.
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8 
3
wenger can change a goal keeper into a world best striker. i wish gervi all da best
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
20 
1
3points is needed urgently!
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6 
0
the Frenchman is the hell of a coach..he always know something beyond the normal coaching ability, please a big bow down the manager, your Le proff, please feed us with some trophies please…long live Arsene i still want to see you…Do your magic to young little Theo and am sure countless goals will flood towards opponents nets…
Gooner till i die….
Top Gooner!. Agree or not?:
15 
1
He scored 5 goals in 7 games and still most of the fans think he s inconsistent and has poor finishing.. just wait for this kid to improve his finishing abilities and we can all see ‘the Prince’ in making.. Sorry i cudnt give him ‘Another King’ title.. I luv the King.. COYG:)
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8 
1
I think Gervinho will continue through the middle for the time being but eventually Giroud will play there. I think Arsene is just taking him out of the lime light until he finds his feet and starts scoring.
Gervinho iris more dangerous running at players so he’ll end up coming in from the left or right.
Let’s get a good result today lads… My prediction is 2-1 to the Arsenal.
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1 
1
Henry = Winger To Striker = World Class
Van Pershit = Winger To Striker = World C*nt
Gervinho = WInger to Striker = We Will See
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7 
1
Gevinho can fill the void left by Henry and van persie but my concern will be his absence on Africans nation cup in january. COYG.
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3 
2
not sure van persie was ever an orthodox winger,but him and henry are technical intelligent players so they made the switch easily because they are also good finishers(dont 4get henry was the top goal scorer at the worldcup in 98 b4 he came to arsenal).Gervinho has started well but has much work 2 do,but i believe he can achieve it.Its interesting to note that wenger tried him there in training then realised he could play there,obviously he’s played walcott upfront in training and hasnt been impressed with what he has seen,theo does not have the technical ability of henry or van persie thats why it will be a more difficult transition 4 him
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2 
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If u av notin 2 do… Count hw many se7en’s he Wenger has converted 2 9ine’z nd hw many internationals he has made.
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1 
1
I dnt see Him as new RVP, he cant b… oke he is gud bt if he is tht much good than majority should nt b sayng tht GIROUD must start today…. I SEE GIROUD AS OUR NEW SUPER STAR… form is temporary CLASS is permanent
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3 
3
when he improves his composure and finshing, he could be our messi.
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3 
2
3 points today
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0 
0
Look forward to gervinho proving wenger right . But at the minute I’d take rvp every time
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2 
1
Can he be the surprise contender for top goal scorer in EPL?
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0 
0
Still think Theo’s a better striker than him.. Gervinho just has better 1-2s, work rate and dribbling everything else theo wins hands down but let’s hope the both come good and theo signs on.
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1 
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Fully respect Arsenes judgement of course, but honestly while i do think that Gervinho will score alot of goals however i can not put him in the same calibre of finishing as rvp, Gervinho while been a bag of trickery who goes past players for fun would probably of not have won us a match like the one last season at Anfield and while i highly rate Gervinho he does tend to switch off on occasion…
I am aware though that it is just akin to a paper selling headline and Arsene is not actually comparing the two as all he is saying he done was to put a player in an unatural position to where he normally would play
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0 
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