Welcome to Arsenal, Gabriel Paulista. This was, unlike some Arsenal transfers, quite a public affair. Not only had Arsene Wenger been quite open about his interest in him in press conferences and interviews, but Villarreal announced the transfer four days before Arsenal as well.
Paulista becomes Arsenal’s first ever Brazilian centre back after he was granted the much talked-about work permit and is now expected to be in the squad to face Aston Villa at the weekend.
I have to admit that when the first murmurs of our interest in him came about, I hadn’t got a clue who he was. In fact, I thought we were planning on bringing the Argentine legend Gabriel Batistuta out of retirement.
When I first saw what he looked like, my heart started beating just that little bit quicker. I thought: “he looks absolutely crazy”.
I was fixated by the glare of his eyes but most of all the inflamed veins on his neck and head. This looks like a guy who means business.
And then which player immediately sprung to mind? Martin Keown. So how appropriate is it that Arsenal announced on Instagram (as they do nowadays) that our new signing would be wearing the number 5 shirt?
I then looked at some of his compilations on Youtube and, although they are almost always deceiving, he looked like a very good defender. He looks like someone who would put his life on the line for the team. Just like Martin used to.
He’s very quick for a tall guy. Martin was no slouch either. He reads the game very well and is incredibly aggressive. Again, that was Martin Keown to a tee.
Journalist Javi Mata told the Independent:
“He’s the kind of player who will run into the post if that is what the coach demands” [via Independent.co.uk]
Arsene Wenger also highlighted his attitude saying:
“He’s very ambitious, focussed and serious. That’s important at a club like ours.” [via Arsenal.com]
The common feeling among pundits is that he isn’t brilliant at playing out from the back and that he’s a raw talent. He will need time to adapt but there is a general confidence that he will flourish.
Personally, I can’t wait to see that aggression on the pitch and him maybe getting up to some Keown-esque antics (i.e. Van Nistelrooy).
