I don’t know about the rest of you Arsenal fans out there, but I was just starting to get a little concerned about the delay that was holding up the completion of the transfer of Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal in Spain’s La Liga, especially with the work permit issues.
But the official Arsenal website has now confirmed that the versatile Brazilian defender, able to play anywhere along the line of a back four, is now a Gunner after reports today revealed that he was sent to Paris to make sure the paperwork went through as quickly as possible.
Anyway we can all now relax and look forward to seeing if the 24-year old can settle quickly into the team and adapt to the rigours of the Premier League/ Paulista himself sounds like he cannot wait to get stuck in and try to make his new club as solid at the back and as hard to beat as he made Villarreal, who have not lost a game in their last 18 matches.
The new Arsenal player said, “I came from a club that is not that big in Brazilian football. I went to Spanish football and that was another dream come true, to play in Europe. A while ago I had a really huge desire to play in the Premier League, so since that point I put it in my head that I really wanted to do it. I had a talk with my family and I told them that it was my dream to play in the Premier League. Getting here to such a big club is so gratifying.
“I am arriving at a big club and the fans can expect to find a Gabriel with a great will to help everyone. Not just thinking of me as an individual, because to me that is not important. I care more about helping the team and my team-mates. I want to help everyone, so the fans can expect a Gabriel that on the field has a lot of will to be able to help the team win important things.”
If the defender can have an impact anything like the last South American player signed by Wenger, with Alexis Sanchez taking the Premier League by storm, then maybe he can help us to a trophy or two this season. Not being cup-tied, he can feature for us in the Champions League and FA cup competitions as well as the league, so welcome aboard to Gabriel and let’s hope for plenty of good times to come.