Saturday, July 9, 2011

Can Gervinho Make An Immediate Impact On Arrival Given His Predecessors Failure?

Given the importance that Arsenal fans supposedly place on new signings showing the stuff they are made of within the shortest time frame possible -will our new attacker live up to our lofty expectations or take a year's leave from action under the guise of acclimatising to his new stationary post?

Gervinho has the potential to become a key figure at Arsenal thanks in particular to his goal scoring as well as, creating ability. But to succeed in the Premiership our golden boy must learn to hog the ball more than any other offensive player in the pitch and improve tremendously on his decision making process (something he's a tad lazy in doing), and his somewhat dismal conversion rate.

The 24-year-old Ivory Coast international squandered a host of mouth-watering once in a match duration of 90 minutes opportunities for Lille in the just concluded season. An offence that will always be committed by his new team-mates who are no strangers to misfiring and accidental misjudgement in front of the opponent's six yard box. He must improve on this aspect of his game if he's to stand a ghost of a chance of stealing the headlines from the club's established names.

Arsenal are a team that love to stick a person or two on the goal scorers chart, which begs the question why won't they? When they have in their possession some of the most talented midfielders on the face of this planet, who play an enviable blend of short interchangeable passes irrespective of whose half they are in. A favourable condition that Gervinho must take advantage of to the fullest if he truly wants to leave an indelible mark on the grass patches of the Emirates pitch as well as, the hearts of all gooners who believe in his ability to outshine those before him.

In recent years the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor, Samir Nasri and Sebastien Squillaci have each spent a respectable amount of time learning from the sidelines pending their integration to the first team. While Chamakh and Koscielny dazzled initially with eye-catching displays before fading with time as the rigours of competing week-in and week-out against some of the best in football entertainment business dawned on the stars. Gervinho's predecessors (Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue) may have being given the benefit of the doubt by Arsene Wenger and the Arsenal faithful, but I sincerely doubt our soon to be announced signing will be afforded the opportunity of right-seeing away at Old Trafford, Stamford Bridge, Anfield, White Hart Lane, Stadium of Light and their likes.

In other circumstances, some other clubs would have (courtesy of a billionaire's open cheque book) gone into the market to buy proven Premiership material to augment their frail department, but we believe in spending modestly -in the process relying on sheer luck and individual brilliance to get the most of our players. In the worst-case scenario the player overcomes his acclimatisation hurdle after so many trial and errsor, only to hand in a neatly written transfer request demanding to be sold immediately to his preferred club where he can win trophies forgetting that he was purchased in the first place to fulfill that express purpose.

It is in the backdrop of this, that we must activate the remnants of our almost deplete hope reserve as we await with bated breath the arrival of another 'highly rated' player to add to our burgeoning contingent of French players at Arsenal.

Comments (4)

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OMG Arsenal's avatar

OMG Arsenal · 721 weeks ago

What an absolute pile of ***** this writer has defecated in this¨article!¨ Chamakh and Koscielny did very well for their first seasons in the EPL and on top of that, they outperformed long term established EPL players in the top 4 teams, despite not getting the playing time and support they needed from their teammates. This is basically an Anti-Arsenal, xenophobic diatribe disguised as a serious review of new players.Shame on you and despite your claim that this is your ¨honest¨opinion (true for all of us) your mindless regurgitation of commonly misshaped ¨truths¨ does you no credit!
1 reply · active less than 1 minute ago
Of course they were terrific at the start of the season. Chamakh was
brilliant and clinical in front of goal during the first half of the
campaign, but you fail to acknowledge the fact that he was benched
because he failed to reproduce the form that saw him earn a place in
Arsene's squad, and not the nonsense that Robin Van Persie's return
was his undoing. For a striker that promised so much, I think overall
Chamakh didn't live up to expectation. Likewise Koscielny, he showed
what he could become by fostering one of our most productive
partnerships last season with the reinvigorated Djourou but they both
connived somehow to ruin our chances of winning a silverware of note.
I doubt you are a through and through Arsenal fan who not only watched
every minute of action last summer, but was also a witness to the
various defensive errors Koscielny committed. In my humble view I
think with the right fine tuning they'll make a terrific pair next
season.
Emekus [Okachioma]'s avatar

Emekus [Okachioma] · 721 weeks ago

Spot on,i think you are right on the koscielny and chamakh issue. Chamakh particularly disappointed me. Am a Nigeria and follows african player alot, the chamakh i once know was a very skillful and direct player.He like to alway take players on. I could remember i sometime called him african c.ronaldo.But playing for arsenal the reverse was the case,some he even appears as he is not interest in goals, that he got stick by some fans.Nevertheless 15 goals on his debut season couple with his appearance,i would he has tried. On koscienly, i think he is my best arsenal defender next to TV.He is a no non-senses defender. He dosen't like to be dri****ed.He also had his bad moment but am quite positive he will improve.
1 reply · active 721 weeks ago
Rather than kos starting well and fading ****, as is suggested in the article, he actually grew into the role, and got better as the season wore on. I think he'll be a great option next season.
Chamakh did fade ****, but he might have contributed more to the side were it not for the return of the brilliant van persie, and given that we only play one striker at the moment, that ended chamakh's 1st team chances at the end of the season.

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