Quotes from Gervinho

Replacing someone who has scored more than 30 goals in the previous season is not easy.

In the Champions League, if you can win at home, the draw away is priceless.

I don't know what I would have done had I not become a footballer. I've always wanted to do that, even when my family would try to stop me playing football so that I went to school.

Arsenal is a team that needs good footballers and leaders on the field.

I was not getting much time on the pitch and was in need of this time to improve and play my best football. Wenger was not prepared to give it to me. Also my position on the wing was not what I was expecting and I wasn't happy with it.

I didn't lose my smile from the first to the last match at Arsenal. I remember when I left I wanted to thank everyone, even the dressing-room staff.

Zahoui is a guy who's in quest of results, however it comes.

My frustration is I quit Arsenal too soon. I left a club I loved without really showing how good I was.

It is always a great pleasure to fight for your own country.

I started playing at my local estate club. I used to wake up every morning to go to play in the club. I loved it so much, it brought a lot of wonderful things in my life.

When Arsene Wenger called me to tell me that he would like me to come to his club, I don't think you imagine the satisfaction I felt just after hanging up the phone.

It's never easy when your team is having a hard time.

I'm very lucky being able to be next to the likes of Thierry Henry or Didier Drogba.

Salah is a tough guy. Always calm and strong, with the mentality of a hard worker. I'll never forget his training sessions: very high rhythm, pushed like a madman, you watched him in amazement.

I was born in a tiny place in Ivory Coast, so being a protagonist in this life is a dream.

I really got a taste for winning titles at Lille.

Regarding my position, I feel really comfortable in any position up front.

The most important thing for me is to continue to learn, step by step, regardless of club or country.

I do not know what the future holds for me.

During the holidays, professional players would come and say hello to us in the academy and that really made you want to be a professional. When you saw what great conditions they lived in, it gave you even more desire.

Almost always being among the reserves was the worst thing for me and for my confidence.

In China you have to be in peak form because you need to do well. You earn a lot - I had a huge salary - but then you have to prove you are worth it. Every match is a challenge and I played next to or faced some truly great players.

My idol has always been Thierry Henry.

At the academy the coaches would show us Arsenal games on TV and my idol was Thierry Henry. He inspired me. That's why I became an Arsenal fan.