Arsene Wenger made his second signing of the winter transfer window yesterday by snapping up defender Gabriel Paulista from Villarreal for a reported fee of £11m. Arriving at the Emirates on a long-term deal after finally obtaining a work permit, the 24-year-old’s versatility was key to his acquisition, according to his new manager::
“He has good pace, he’s good in the challenge and he’s tall – so he can adapt to English football. Maybe it will take some time to adapt completely, but overall it’s very good to have him. We needed another centre-back because we have lost Debuchy. Monreal can play centre back and we are a bit short there if something happens, especially with the Achilles [problem] of Koscielny since the start of the season. We needed some cover, or we would not be responsible. [Gabriel] can play right-back and left-back, and that is of course a good quality as well.”
The History
Born in Sao Paulo, the defender is a product of the Vitoria youth system in his native Brazil. Handed his debut as a 19-year-old in 2010, Paulista went on to play 77 times for the club, scoring once and helping his side win the 2013 Campeonato Baiano, where he was voted the best central defender of the tournament.
After attracting the attention of a number of European clubs, Paulista eventually signed for Villarreal in August 2013 and managed 18 first XI appearances over his first league season. This time around, though, the Brazilian has been vital – starting each of the first 19 league matches in a defence that has conceded just 17 times – the third best record in La Liga – he helped his side to a 15-match unbeaten run before being left out of last weekend’s squad to face Levante ahead of his Emirates move.
The Prospects
Wenger’s above quotes suggest that the new boy may need time to adapt and won’t be thrown in at the deep end quite yet. Arguably, though, the Brazilian affords Arsenal a greater degree of versatility than any other defender, given that no other backline option can play at centre-half and both full-back positions.
Predominantly a centre-half, the 24-year-old affords Wenger the chance to carefully manage Laurent Koscielny’s ongoing Achilles injury. The Frenchman has mustered just 12 league appearances this season but with Calum Chambers failing to convince at centre-half and Mathieu Debuchy sidelined with yet another injury, Paulista’s arrival strengthens the Gunners’ options right across the backline. Having averaged 3.5 interceptions per appearance to Koscielny’s 3.6 this season, the stats suggest the new boy’s pace and reading of the game affords Wenger a like-for-like alternative to the injury-prone Frenchman in the heart of the back-four.
Yet to be added to Fantasy games, Gabriel could, however, offer the north London club a solution to the right-back berth in light of Debuchy’s shoulder injury. From a Fantasy perspective, though, there’s a hope that cut-price Chambers or Hector Bellerin – at 4.8 and 4.4 respectively – will nail down that position as Wenger gradually introduces the new boy to life in the English top-flight.
With Villa, Leicester, Palace, Everton and QPR in the next six, the fixtures are very much in Arsenal’s favour but it remains to be seen just how the South American will be integrated into Wenger’s first-team plans. For now, a lack of guaranteed pitch time will ensure we sit back and asses the situation and with the likes of David Ospina, at 4.8, offering another route between the sticks into a defence that has just kept out City at the Etihad, our faith in Arsenal’s defence is definitely on the up.
