Gervinho: Don’t forget what Arsene Wenger has done for Arsenal
Posted Saturday, September 17, 2011 by thesun.co.uk
Backing ... Gervinho hailed Wenger
Gervinho says people forget how good a manager Arsene Wenger is.
Wenger has seen his reign as Arsenal boss come in for criticism following a slow start to the season.
The Frenchman's transfer policy has also been questioned after he rushed through a host of last-minute deals on transfer deadline day.
And he lost the club's two most prized assets in Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri as they joined Barcelona and Manchester City respectively.
But new signing Gervinho, who cost £10.7million from Lille, says people must remember what Wenger has achieved.
He said: "It's Arsene's job to choose his players and I believe in his vision. Whatever player Arsene picks to play for Arsenal, I respect that and so should the fans.
"Critics and criticism are part of the game and I've not been affected by it.
"But people should remember Arsene is the one who has brought the club to its current level, he's the one who has helped make its great history.
"Of course, I'd have been happy to have played alongside Cesc and Samir because they are both world-class players.
"But, unfortunately, they have moved on in their careers just like I have with my move from Lille to Arsenal and I must respect the paths they have followed.
"I'd still have signed for Arsenal if they had been sold before I arrived — there are still great players at this club."
Striker Gervinho admits it is his dream move. He has been a lifelong Gooner and grew up idolising the club's record goalscorer Thierry Henry.
He said: "Playing for Arsenal is a dream come true for me. I never expected to become an Arsenal player this early in my career.
"But there were times I thought the move would never happen. I had been linked with Arsenal for the last two summers — but nothing came of it.
"A couple of other English clubs were also interested in me this summer but then I got a call from my agent and Lille saying they were talking to Arsenal.
"However, I didn't believe them until Arsene phoned me. Even then I tried to recognise the voice I had heard so many times on TV to convince myself it was actually him."
Gervinho, real name Gervais Yao Kouassi, was born in the Ivory Coast capital of Abidjan.
He lived with his librarian father Emmanuel, mother Henriette and nine brothers and sisters in a cramped two-bedroomed flat.
Gervinho said: "We were poor but happy. The girls would all sleep in one bedroom, the boys on an old mattress in the other but we didn't go hungry."
He did not get his first pair of proper football boots until he was nearly 17 — and said: "They were adidas World Cup boots with moulded studs. But I was so excited.
"At the academy the coaches would show us Arsenal games on TV and my idol was Thierry Henry. He inspired me. That's why I became an Arsenal fan."
Gervinho helped Lille to the league and cup double last season. In stark contrast, the Gunners have been potless for six years.
But he insists: "I believe in this team and what the club can become. I hope we can erase that mentality of losing."
Wenger says Arsenal lost out on a trophy last season because they were too greedy to win all four competitions.
And he said: "We were a team on the up and that was not rewarded last year because we were maybe too hungry to go forward for four trophies.
"But the basic qualities were there and we were certainly very close. Then suddenly we were hit by major departures.
"The cycle starts again because we have taken five players as well as our highest investment in Alex Chamberlain, a young player."
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