Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has declared that Gervinho is capable of providing the Gunners with new attacking impetus if provided with the right level of support.

Gervinho scored his first goal for Arsenal since October to secure a vital 2-0 victory at Swansea City on Saturday.

Wenger has admitted that the Ivorian's form was affected by a lack of confidence earlier this season but still thinks that the winger is capable of a successful end to the campaign.

He told the club's official website: "I know that Gervinho was under a lot of negative pressure because he missed chances and as well because I know how big that win was for us.

"He had the Africa Nations Cup and came back a little bit jaded but now I'm sure until the end of the season he will be a big force for us. He is sensitive, he needs the support. He wants to do well, he loves football, when he doesn't score of course he is down.

"He gives us something different. He can dribble, he can provoke. Recently I felt he lacked confidence because when he got in front of goal you could see that it was not spontaneous. I hope that goal will give him a lot of confidence."

Arsenal have closed the gap on Tottenham Hotspur to four points this weekend as the race for Champions League qualification hots up.