Gervinho signs, Campbell stalls, and Denilson sets sail
909 comments July 18th, 2011
At long last, Arsenal have completed their first major signing of the summer, with Gervinho finally officially an Arsenal player.
The player is made up about the move, saying:
“It’s a great feeling to be an Arsenal player. I’m very happy. I’ve always dreamed to play for this Club. I’ve achieved this dream now and I am so happy. It’s one of the most beautiful days of my life.
I’m very happy to have the chance to work with Arsène Wenger. I came here because I believe that he can improve my game and help me reach another level, but the most important thing for me is that I bring a lot to the team for whom I’m playing.”
There’s a more in-depth interview with the player on the shiny new Arsenal Player, in which the player acknowledges he is likely to have to undergo a period of adaptation:
“I enjoyed adapting to the French league. I know English football is harder and I might need more time at the start, but ultimately it’s up to me to adapt.”
He’s been training at London Colney for a week now, and all being well will travel with the squad to face FC Cologne on Saturday.
Whether or not Gervinho will be joined in the attacking ranks by Costa Rican forward Joel Campbell remains to be seen. The move was due to be tied up yesterday, but late interest from another Premier League club threatened to put a spanner in the works.
It seems, however, that we remain firmly in the driving seat. Arseblog News has the following quotes from the player’s father:
“I thought it be decided yesterday but we need to review some points in the contract.
It’s a question of looking at what they’re offering and making sure everything is ok. If so, he will sign with Arsenal.”
The player himself, meanwhile, commented to La Nacion about Arsenal’s interest:
“Well, it’s a dream, a great opportunity. But I have not signed and I keep quiet.
Thank God there are several offers and we are considering them all. If I go to Arsenal or not is decided according to what best suits my interests.
I am also clear that to play in Europe, we need a work permit. And we’re waiting to finalize details like that, before making a final decision.”
The Arsenal delegation remain in Costa Rica working on the deal – there should be more news this evening.
As Campbell considers crossing the Atlantic to join Arsenal, midfielder Denilson is heading in the other direction to return to Sao Paulo on loan. Although the player called it “more than a dream come true” on his official twitter account, it’s hardly a step forward for the player, who had hoped to move to Spain or Italy. In fact, rather typically for Denilson, it’s a move at best sideways, probably backwards. It seems he burnt his bridges rather with his comments at the back end of last season, and has had to take the only concrete offer on the table.
Arsene has spoken out again about the futures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri. It’s obvious to me that their destinies are intertwined: the club won’t countenance losing both, so one is free to go only if the other remains.
This week will be crucial. Arsene is now back at Colney with both Nasri and Fabregas. With huge fixtures as soon as the season kicks off, we cannot afford to have these lingering doubts drag on beyond the start of August, especially when it comes to our captain.
If Barca don’t stump up the money soon, we’ll have the declare that Cesc is off the market – whether he likes it or not.
