Arsenal confirm Gervinho signing

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger confirmed the club has completed a deal to sign striker Gervinho from French club Lille.

The Ivory Coast international, who scored 15 goals and contributed 10 assists to help the French side to their first league title in 57 years last season, arrives at the Emirates Stadium for a fee believed to be 10.6 million pounds.

Wenger revealed the news about Gervinho as his side arrived in Malaysia ahead of their lucrative pre-season tour of Asia.

The 24-year-old has not joined his new club on the tour, but Wenger will be keen to give him plenty of time on the pitch with his new team-mates prior to the start of the season.

The Gunners reportedly agreed personal terms with the striker last month, but have spent the intervening period in talks with Lille over his price.

Gervinho becomes the second off-season arrival at the Emirates Stadium after the signing of full-back Carl Jenkinson from Charlton Athletic, as Wenger looks to revamp his squad in a bid to end the club’s six-year trophy drought.

The Frenchman has also vowed to keep star duo Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri at the club.

There has been much speculation around the future of the pair, with both rumoured to be keen on a move away from London.

But Wenger insists he will be doing his best to keep the duo.

“Our position is always the same, we want to keep Cesc and I will fight as hard as I can to keep him,” Wenger said.

“Samir Nasri is exactly the same. We will do everything we can to keep him.”