---
title: "Gabriel – FA Cup win will never be forgotten"
canonical: "https://readarsenal.com/2015/12/03/gabriel-fa-cup-win-will-never-forgotten/"
type: "post"
language: "en-GB"
author: "Matt Mundy"
section: "Arsenal News"
published: "2015-12-03T17:22:51Z"
modified: "2015-12-03T17:22:51Z"
---

# Gabriel – FA Cup win will never be forgotten

Brazilian centre back Gabriel says winning the FA Cup is a moment he will treasure for the rest of his life.

It is approaching a year since the Sao Paulo-born defender moved to England to join the Gunner’s, arriving from Villarreal in January this year.

And [the 25-year-old was delighted](https://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/20151202/gabriel-the-highlight-of-my-first-year) to have won a trophy so soon into his career at the Emirates and in such a ‘prestigious’ tournament.

![Paul Gilham/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readarsenal.com/readarsenal/2015/12/475279318.jpg)

> *It is something I’ll remember for the rest of my life, winning my first trophy with Arsenal, and the most important of my career.*
>
> *I spent a whole week just thinking about this game, and the fact that it was at Wembley, a stadium that everyone around the world knows. The thought of setting foot on such a legendary pitch, in this magnificent stadium, was amazing.*

It has been a steep learning curve for Gabriel, who, as recently as two years ago, was representing Vitoria in the second tier of Brazilian football.

After spending a season-and-a-half in La Liga for The Yellow Submarine, Gabriel now finds himself playing at a club battling for league titles and playing in the UEFA Champions League.

His first year at Arsenal has been largely transitional, integrating into a team as back-up to first-choice defenders Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny when the pair were unavailable.

![Mike Hewitt/Getty Images Sport](https://media.readarsenal.com/readarsenal/2015/12/470228828.jpg)

But that didn’t stop him enjoying every moment of the record-breaking 12th FA Cup triumph in May.

> *I was lucky enough to play in the semi-final and the final was very emotional for me too.*
>
> *It was great to win a trophy so soon after arriving at the club, and also very important for my family. It was great to see the whole squad so happy at achieving our goal.*