Last night we expected an Ashley Cole sideshow. Back in
England for the first time since leaving Chelsea, the best left back of
his generation looked unfamiliar in Roma colours.
But
it was not the 33-year-old defender who caught the eye in an ominously
impressive Roma display. Indeed, his was not even the most notable
performance by a former Arsenal player.
That honour
went to Gervinho, who looks to have become an entirely different
footballer since he left the care of Arsene Wenger in the summer of
2013. At the age of 27, the Ivorian striker should be at his peak. What
is interesting, though, is that during his difficult two seasons at
Arsenal he looked like a player who would probably never have one.
His contribution to Arsenal’s Premier League efforts was just nine goals.
Throughout his stay, he looked ill-equipped for the English game.
Weak, erratic and unreliable, Gervinho came to represent what appeared to be wrong with Wenger’s transfer strategy for strikers.
Here
on Tuesday night, however, he showed himself to be rather better as
Roma provided Manchester City with one of the sternest examinations they
have had here in the Champions League — a bold statement given the
tough nights Bayern Munich and Barcelona have given the Premier League
champions in recent years.
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