All eyes are on the new faces in the Arsenal squad, but it could be one of last season’s new additions who makes the difference.
There are plenty of reasons for Arsenal to be excited about the new season, despite losing their two star players from last season. We even listed five yesterday.
How the big three new signings of Giroud, Cazorla, and Podolski settle in will shape Arsenal’s season, but there is one player who can bring an unpredictablity to the Gunners attack that none of those three can.
That man is Gervinho, a completely different type of player to the three new boys, who will be out to prove his worth after a mixed first season at the Emirates.
Despite his unfortunate opening day red card at the hands of Joey Barton, then of Newcastle, Gervinho started off in excellent form. He played a big part in helping Arsenal over the line in their Champions League qualifier against Udinese and looked to be settling well in the Premier League upon his return.
The turning point in his season was the African Nations Cup, which took a great deal out of him. He scored a superb extra-time winner for Ivory Coast in their semi-final, but they lost on penalties in the final to Zambia.
When he came back to Arsenal he looked exhausted, and never recaptured the sparkling he was capable of. He played 90 minutes for Arsenal just once in the Premier League after the AFCON, in the 3-3 home draw with Norwich.
He ended the season with four goals to his name and seven assists in all competitions for the Gunners, a good platform on which to build. This season he will be looking to push towards double figures in both departments. A tough ask, but one he is capable of.
The fascinating thing about Gervinho is that while he achieved all this last season, very few Arsenal fans feel they have seen anywhere near the best of him. As a result opposing defences still do not know what they are up against, and he is a real wildcard in the club’s attack.
Strikers like Giroud are a bit more one-dimensional, while with Gervinho, he can play across the front line, mainly on the left but can drift inside, drop deep, and run with the ball putting defenders under pressure and creating space for him teammates.
He was bright in the Gunners opening draw with Sunderland, and spoke yesterday of the confidence running throughout the squad, a great sign that the current players believe they can achieve despite the exits of Van Persie and Song.
And they can. When pundits have been considering Arsenal’s prospects, they have not really been factoring in Gervinho and his capablity, because his potential is still largely unknown. If he can display anywhere like the type of form he showed in France when he bagged 18 goals for Lille in 2010/11, he could be the difference maker Arsenal need.
The question mark again remains with the African Nations Cup due to be played this year, will it take as much out of him again? The player, Arsenal, and their coaching staff will have to work closely to make sure he returns in a position to aid the club’s push for silverware, and not sizzle out along the way like he did last year.
image: © Ronnie Macdonald
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