Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger highlighted Gervinho's performance for their 4-1 rout of Reading.

The 25-year-old was on the money on Saturday afternoon, opening the scoring on 11 minutes and having a hand in everything positive as Arsenal eventually broke the Royals stubborn resistance again at the start of the second half when Santi Cazorla sweeping home. Olivier Giroud added a third following a quick break by Gervinho.

Hal Robson-Kanu headed in a consolation for Nigel Adkins' men, but there was to be no recovery to mark their new manager's first match in charge as Mikel Arteta's penalty made sure Arsenal closed up on Chelsea in the race for fourth-spot and also remained within striking distance of Tottenham, on whom they hold a match in hand.

"Gervinho's performance was very strong. He was always dangerous, always looked like he could score, gave assists and scored himself," Wenger said.

"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.

"At the African Nations Cup, for me he was the best striker there. He is the type of player who is difficult to find, because they always go at people."