Arsenal Transfer News: Gervinho Officially Completes Move to Roma

Gervinho is on his way to Roma after finalizing a deal to end his stay with Arsenal, the Premier League club announced. The forward spent the past two seasons with the Gunners.

The BBC reports the agreement, which will provide the Ivory Coast international with a chance to revitalize his career, is for £8 million.

Gervinho's Arsenal career began in the summer of 2011 amid hopes he could bolster the club's lineup after a pair of successful seasons with Lille. At 24, he was viewed as a player on the rise who would help spearhead the Gunners' attack for many years to come.

It never happened. He struggled to maintain any semblance of top form during his time at the Emirates, lacking the finishing touch necessary to make a consistent impact for Arsene Wenger's squad.   

Over time, Gervinho fell out of favor as the club moved in other directions to fill voids on the attack. He made just 12 Premier League starts last season, and the path to playing time wasn't going to get any easier if he stayed with the Gunners.

So it was in the best interest of both Gervinho and Arsenal for him to find a new home. He found one in Roma, a club that finished sixth in Serie A last season.

The Giallorossi have made a concerted effort throughout the summer to improve the squad by signing Maicon, Morgan De Sanctis, Mehdi Benatia and Kevin Strootman, giving them a better opportunity to compete with the league's top clubs, including Juventus and AC Milan.

Gervinho will have to battle for playing time throughout the campaign. Roma have a solid attacking group, led by veterans Pablo Osvaldo and Francesco Totti. But if he can rediscover the form he flashed during his time with Lille, he should earn his way into a large role. 

At the very least, he hopes it goes better than a mostly forgettable stay at Arsenal.