The Arsenal flop who sent Hazard to Chelsea

Gervinho of Arsenal in action during a Barclays Premier League match. (GETTY)

Published Wednesday, May 30, 2012

By Staff

Eden Hazard has high regard for his former Lille team mate Gervinho but he could not persuade the Belgian

Gervinho may be held in high esteem by his former Lille team mate Eden Hazard but it was not enough to prevent the Belgian starlet from choosing Chelsea.

Hazard avidly studies videos of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo but believes Arsenal’s Gervinho is the best he has ever played with, according to The Sun.

“A lot of players watch videos of others. I’m not scared to say I watch videos of Messi and Ronaldo, I try and inspire myself from them. Great players inspire you. The best player I played with was Gervi (Gervinho). We didn’t have the same qualities, but we both tried to make the difference. He taught me some things. He makes the right runs,” said Hazard who is set to make a £32 million switch to Chelsea.

However, Gervinho has not made a huge impact since his move to Emirates a year ago.

Hazard revealed in the interview that he is an instinctive player who prefers playing rather than training.

"People interpreted that as me not wanting to work hard. That’s false. I work seriously. It’s helped me get to where I am now," said the 21-year-old attacking midfielder.

He scored 49 goals in 192 games for Lille and he will play his 29th international for Belgium in Saturday’s friendly against England at Wembley.

Hazard has also courted controversy once infuriating Belgium coach Georges Leekens by eating a burger after being substituted during the Euro 2012 qualifier against Turkey last June.

But Lille coach Rudi Garcia considers Hazard, who turned down the chance to play for both Manchester clubs, a major talent.

He said: “Eden isn’t just a little gem, he’s a whole mine!

“But it’s not talent alone that will get him to where he wants to go. A lot of very good players have got lost along the way.”

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