Written by Filip Urbancík Thursday, 14 July 2011 19:20

GunnerTalk Blog

By Filip Urbancik

Gervais Yao Kouassi better known as Gervinhowas born in Anyama (Côte d'Ivoire) 27th of May 1987. His career began in a famous youth academy ASEC Abidjan, where he was given a nickname Gervinho. He spent there five years to move to a division club Toumoudi F.C.where he became a profesional player.

In the summer of 2005 K. S. K. Beveren,a Belgium Jupiler League side, signed Gervinho together with our beloved Emmanuel Eboue and goalkeeper Barry. He scored 14 goals in 61 appearances.

Ligue 1 side Le Manssigned Gervinho in 2007. In debut season he scored twice. Next season he scored 7 goals (9 goals in 59 appearances in total). 

Qualities of a very talented and quickly developing striker caught eye of another french side Lille, which signed him for 6 mil. € in 2009.  He scored 13 times in 32 appearances in the first season with Lille. In season 2010/2011 he helped Lille to win the double, their first league title in 60 years and third Coupe de France with 18 goals in both competitions.

His international career is quite impressive as he managed to score 6 goals in just 27 appearences many of them only as a substitution.

Gervinho, the second summer signing, joined The Gunner for £10,5 mil after very long process of negotiations with current French champions.

Our latest signing is now preparing for the first season with Arsenal at Colney. Arsene Wenger tried to signed him before Asian Tour but there were problems with paper work and he couldn´t get his visa quickly enough to travel with his new team mates around Asia.

I just hope he will prove his qualities as a player as well as a person and will develop quickly into one of the best strikers in Premier Legue.