GERVINHO TAKES AIM AT WENGER AHEAD OF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE CLASH
Former Arsenal forward Gervinho has taken a subtle but pointed jab at Arsène Wenger, criticizing the French manager’s handling of his time at the club. Now flourishing under Rudi Garcia at AS Roma, the Ivorian winger reflected on his Premier League stint during a press conference ahead of Roma’s Champions League match against Manchester City.
“Wenger never had faith in me,” Gervinho stated candidly. “Garcia makes no distinction between those who play and those who don’t. For a player, that’s important.”
Gervinho contrasted the two managers, praising Garcia for treating all players equally:
“He doesn’t talk to you more because you play, or less if you don’t. There aren’t just 11 players for him, but 25. Everyone is treated the same way.”
Having joined Arsenal in 2011 from Lille, Gervinho struggled to cement a regular spot under Wenger, often finding himself on the bench. He moved to AS Roma in 2013, where he quickly became a key figure under his former Lille coach Garcia.
“I dreamed of playing for Arsenal. I’ve loved them since I was little,” he said. “I don’t hate Arsenal now because of how Wenger treated me. My frustration is that I left too soon. I left a club I loved without having fully shown that I was good. I didn’t think I would leave after only two seasons.”
Now a central part of Roma’s attack, Gervinho seems determined to prove what he couldn’t fully show in North London—and he’ll have the perfect stage to do so in Europe’s biggest club competition.
