Arsenal: How Will Roma-Bound Striker Gervinho Be Remembered?

Gervinho has one foot out of the Arsenal exit door. According to The Metro, fresh talks have taken place between Arsenal and Roma this week, and the Ivorian international is closing in on a move to Serie A.

Few Arsenal fans will be surprised to see Gervinho leave. The writing seemed to be on the wall when he found himself out of the first-team at the back end of last season.

Another key moment was when Gervinho was allowed to remain in London while The Gunners embarked on their tour of Asia. The club cited illness but few seasoned observers were buying it.

The winger joins a considerable Arsenal exodus. The likes of Andrey Arshavin, Andre Santos and Denilson have already left the club, and more could yet follow. The deadwood has been culled, and Gervinho is set to be the latest victim of Arsene Wenger's ruthless spring-clean.

Arsenal fans will reflect on a two year spell at the club that promised much and ultimately delivered little.  

Gervinho arrived from France with a glittering reputation. He had been a star player in a Lille side that had won Ligue 1. In his final season in the French league, he reached double figures for both goals and assists. Gervinho had formed a lethal and effective wing partnership with Eden Hazard, even occasionally outshining the prodigiously-talented Belgian. 

Arsenal appeared to have picked up a bargain. 

However, Gervinho was never able to consistently replicate his Ligue 1 form in the Premier League. 

His attributes are obvious: He is extremely quick and very fit. Gervinho can beat a full-back by attrition; he wears them down by charging at them with the ball time after time. His close-control in tight areas is also potentially exceptional. He is able to get to the byline in the narrowest of corridors.

However, his unconventional style also made the flaws in his game glaringly obvious.

Gervinho’s basic technique occasionally appeared lacking. He sometimes seemed as likely to mis-control the ball as trap it. His dribbles would frequently turn into absent-minded slalom’s into blind alleys. His finishing, meanwhile, lacked both class and composure. 

Even when Gervinho enjoyed a relatively successful spell as a centre forward at the start of the 2012/13 season, there was something uncultured about the goals he scored.

When forced to take a chance in an instant, he was capable of producing powerful, instinctive finishing. As soon as he had time to think about it, he seemed to struggle to get the same quality of connection.

Gervinho’s dallying was indicative of a player who lacked confidence. Unfortunately, he was never able to put a good enough run of form together to give him the boost he patently needed to flourish.

Should Gervinho join Roma, he will meet up with Rudi Garcia, the coach who oversaw the best period of Gervinho’s career in France. He may yet rediscover his best form.

Arsenal fans will be sad to see a player leave without fulfilling his potential. However, his displays in England simply lacked the consistency and calibre required at the Emirates Stadium. 

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here.