Archive - Gervinho in World Cup action for Ivory Coast (UK only)
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Lille's Ivory Coast striker Gervinho.
The 24-year-old scored 15 goals to help Lille win the French league and Cup double last season.The Gunners are currently on a pre-season tour of the far East and manager Arsene Wenger said: "Gervinho has joined. He had a medical on Thursday.
"We sent him home for a couple of days because he has a family and children. He did not come [on tour] because he has not had a [training] session yet."
Gervinho, who captained Ivory Coast at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, recently told France Football magazine: "I chose Arsenal because it's a young group within which I will be able to integrate easily.
"I had no hesitation. None. But in a transfer there's always a period of analysis and negotiations.
IVORIANS IN PREMIER LEAGUE
- Emmanuel Eboue, Arsenal
- Gervinho, Arsenal
- Didier Drogba, Chelsea
- Salomon Kalou, Chelsea
- Abdul Razak, Man City
- Kolo Toure, Man City
- Yaya Toure, Man City
- Cheik Ismael Tiote, Newcastle
- Abdoulaye Meite, WBA
- Steve Gohouri, Wigan
"The Premier League is a notch above. It's maybe the best league in the world. I want to live that sensation."
Paris St Germain have also enquired about Gervinho but Lille general manager Frederic Paquet did not want to "strengthen a competitor" by selling to a domestic rival.
Paquet went on to describe 20-year-old Belgian winger Eden Hazard, who is also thought to be an Arsenal target, as "untransferable".