Gervinho hoping Robin van Persie will stay at the Emirates

The Cote D'Ivoire forward wants his Dutch strike partner to stay at the Emirates, insisting that the Gunners captain helps the team "psychologically"Arsenal’s Gervinho is hoping captain Robin van Persie will stay at the Emirates, hailing the Dutchman's importance to Arsene Wenger's side.The former Lille striker has only been at the Emirates for a short period but has already forged a strong relationship with his captain. The Cote D'Ivoire international has become a creative influence that has helped Van Persie to flourish on the goal scoring front so far this season.With his contract running down at the club, the Dutchman has been linked with a move away from the Emirates, despite Van Persie's insistence that he is going nowhere, and Gervinho hopes his captain will remain with the Gunners.“We always need our best players so a player like Robin, frankly, we need him to stay longer at the club," he told the outfit's official website."It would give me pleasure if he stayed because I’ve just arrived and I would like him to stay so I can play with him a while longer.“He’s formidable and the team needs him," Gervinho continued. "You always have to have leaders in the group and he’s one of the players who drags the team forward.“He’s the captain and his role is to galvanise the group and he assumes the responsibility. He is good for us psychologically. He’s among the most experienced players on the pitch and when he enters the game he puts the opposition’s defence under pressure and that helps our game."