We are all very happy to see Gabriel Paulista arrive at Arsenal from Villarreal as much-needed defensive cover, but there seems to be some confusion about when he will actually be ready to play in the Gunners first team.
There were many headlines saying that Gabriel will go straight into the squad for today’s game against Aston Villa, after reading Arsene Wenger’s comments. “What I saw was a great quality for a defender,” the Boss said on Arsenal.com. “He has a good level of concentration, he’s physically able to adapt to the Premier League because he is quite a good size and he’s quick as well.
“He has great commitment in the challenges and he’s young. He’s 24 years old and that’s a good age for a central defender. He’s ready to go – he’ll be in the squad for Sunday certainly. He started training yesterday and he looks fit.”
But Arsene Wenger has also tempered that statement saying that the Brazilian will need to settle in and learn some English before he can be risked on the pitch. “You always need time to adapt,” Wenger continued. “Especially in a defensive position because you need to know your partners. At the moment he does not speak a word of English and that can cost you goals. If you mix going forwards with going backwards, it can cost you.
“It is a position where you need to know your partners and you need to communicate as well. We will try to teach him the important words. ‘Offside’ for example or ‘Look at the linesman’!”
Luckily it is not as desperate at the moment, as it was earlier in the season, to throw him on the pitch immediately, but for a player who was brought up in Portugese-speaking Brazil and then moved to Spain it will obviously take time to learn how to communicate with his defensive partners.
Gabriel will definitely be able to talk to Hector Bellerin, but the rest of our defenders (other than the BFG) are either French or English so he will certainly need time to learn the basics. How long do you think it will be before Wenger is really willing to risk putting him in the team?
cant wait until its koz/paulista and per is on the bench.
that’ll be better for the team.
Ospina ((spainish)
__Bellerin__Paulista__Kosielny__Monreal
(spainish)__(spainish)__(french)__spainish)
So I think its not that hard, 4 out of possible back 5 can speak (spanish). Including him.
His Spanish is poor and his English non-existent.
If there are no injuries to Kos Mertz
Bellerin or Chambers I wouild not
expect him to play against Villa
or Spurs. But after that yes.
Leicester (H)
Middlesborough (H)
Palace (A)
Then he should be ready if needed for Monaco (H)
However Arsenal do get injuries so he will be
on the bench and then who knows maybe sooner.
Is that supposed to be a question or an answer? His chance will come.
Preferably not till after Villa or Spurs.
But Arsenal are injury kings .
Kos could pull out any minute
because of his Archilles.
If we were thashing Villa tomorrow Wenger
might just give him ten who knows.
But prefer Leicester.
Today’s match i’m going for a 3-1 or 4-2 score Cazorla and Giroud on the score sheet.
A short cameo in the villa game would do… Especially after we Leading with a big unequalizable margin………. The key to not concealing will be keeping the momentum ……or must we wait 4 ages?
*conceeding * my bad!
The language barrier is an issue.
As @Davidnz says Leicester would be a good starting point.
If we are winning against Villa then bring him on towards the end of the game.
The London derby is likely way too big for him and too early.
Bring ‘Hardmando’ on when the game is won!;)
@Admin, Pretty sure he came from Villarreal, not Barca. In terms of how good he is, it’s pretty hard to tell until he plays for us. Could be a new Kos, could be a new Cygan, only time will tell.
yes from Villarreal
Oops! Fixed now….
Apologies its Sunday morning lol
So Oxlade-Chamberlain is injured, Alexis doubtful and unlikely to be risked. Hopefully Walcott will start, but with Campbell and Podolski gone, who will start on the left? I hope Cazorla stays in the middle, but Özil is useless out wide.. Could Rosicky be the answer?
He didn’t come from Barca and his natural language is Portugese. He speaks a little Spanish but no English or anything else.
I hope Sanchez and Gabriel are signed up for English lessons 🙂
I’m interested to see Sanchez’s first interview when his English is good enough.