Marseille Want Misfiring Arsenal Forward on Season Long Loan – Report

Marseille have contacted Arsenal to see whether the north London club would allow struggling forward Gervinho to join the club on a season-long loan.

The Ivorian has struggled to make an impact in the Arsenal first team and has often found his role limited to impact substitute. However, he is still held in high regard in France where he helped Lille win the Ligue 1 title with a string of impressive performances.

French publication le10sport have reported that Marseille have offered to pay a portion of Gervinho's salary but it is believed that it will be difficult to persuade Arsenal to part with the player with the current deal on the table.

Gervinho arrived at the Emirates with a weight of expectation after scoring 14 league goals in Lille's title winning side. However, he has struggled to endear himself to supporters and has been unable to hold down a regular place in the side.

Last season he started just 12 Premier League games but manager Arsene Wenger was always looking for the positives in his displays and simply felt as though he lacked confidence.

"Gervinho's performance was very strong. He was always dangerous, always looked like he could score, gave assists and scored himself,'" said Wenger after Gervinho helped Arsenal defeat Reading 4-1 back in March.

"I believe that sometimes Gervinho has lost confidence because he played in a very negative atmosphere during a period. Strikers need confidence, and [with] his game, even more.

"He was always taking the ball and going forward, and provoking. When you lose confidence, that is a very dangerous game then. When he has found the confidence back, he's a very dangerous player."

The 26 year old will surely want to prove himself at Arsenal but the lure of playing regular first team football in a Champions League side may well be tempting.

Marseille are unable to make an offer to sign the player on a permanent deal because finances are tight, but manager Elie Baup is hoping that Gervinho will be able to persuade Arsenal to let him return to France.