Gervinho backing Wilfried Zaha to shine for Ivory Coast at the Africa Cup of Nations as forward admits he hopes to return to Arsenal one day

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Former Arsenal forward Gervinho has backed Wilfried Zaha to shine at the Africa Cup of Nations, as the Crystal Palace star looks to guide The Elephants to back to back titles.

Gervinho was part of the team that won the competition two years ago, and while he is out of this edition through injury, Zaha, a recent call-up having played previously for England, is expected to be a like for like replacement.

And Gervinho says he will have no trouble adapting to the game in his new national team.

Gervinho has backed Wilfried Zaha to shine at the Africa Cup of Nations

Zaha (centre) in action during the Ivory Coast session in Gabon on Monday

‘In the Ivory Coast, even when you’re new, you integrate quickly,’ he told Sportsmail ahead of Ivory Coast’s tournament opener against Togo on Monday.

‘We have a great atmosphere, a good team there. I think that in his few games, Zaha has already adapted to the Ivory Coast. On the field, he won’t have any difficulty adapting to our style.’

Ivory Coast have only eight players in their squad from the triumph two years ago, with the likes of Kolo and Yaya Toure having retired since.

But as the so-called ‘golden generation’ has begun to fade, a new promising one has emerged in its place, starring the likes of Manchester United defender Eric Bailly.

‘It’s good, we have some very good players. We lost some great players, and we have some great new ones. It’s a new generation.

‘Zaha, who’s doing well in England, Bailly from Manchester, and also (young Atalanta star) Franck Kessie the midfielder, Max Gradel, Salamon (Kalou) who is a big brother. 

The Crystal Palace star is looking to guide The Elephants to back to back titles

‘It’s a good generation. It’s young, but with time, they’ll get experience.’

Gervinho ought to have been the experienced head leading the team, but instead he will be watching on from the stands, something he admits he will find difficult.

But he insists he is getting back to fitness, and revealed that, if possible, he would like at some point to return to the Premier League.

‘Perhaps,’ he said when asked by Sportsmail about a possible return. ‘Everything’s possible in football. I liked playing in England, I liked playing for Arsenal.

‘It’s a great club, for me, and I am still an Arsenal fan. Will I come back? Maybe, I still hope to.‘ 

Gervinho also revealed that he would be interested in returning to Arsenal one day