New boy Gabriel, apparently well up on early 90s hit parade number ones, says joining Arsenal is a dream come true.
The defender, apparently versatile enough to play across the backline, completed his move from Villarreal yesterday for a fee believed to be around £11.3 million.
Speaking to Arsenal Player about his rapid progression from Brazilian football to the Premier League the 24-year-old reflected:
“First of all I want to thank God for the opportunity. It’s another dream in my career that has come true. I have only just arrived but I am already feeling really good here in London.
“I’m at a top club so that gives me more strength to be able to work and carry on, to be able to conquer much more in my career.
“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 be able 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. And I don’t know, I just got this call – Arsenal came to sign me, so to me, for my work, for everything I have been doing, things are just happening for me. Getting here to such a big club is so gratifying.”
The new boy also touched on why Arsene Wenger’s influence played a role in his decision to quit Spain for the rigours of life in England.
“I came on his request, on the coach’s request. He asked to sign me and to me that gives me more strength and the will to be able to work.
“I see that he’s a coach that has been here for many years and this is important, not only for the team but also for the club. This is very important for everyone that works here in the club, to have a coach like this.”
It is expected that Gabriel will be included in Sunday’s squad for the game against Aston Villa. Looking ahead to the rest of the season he underlined that he’s hoping to help the squad improve after watching some of the Gunners recent performances.
“The few games I have watched and witnessed, during the season, I saw that there is room for improvement. We have a lot to conquer because Arsenal is a very big club, we must always be at the top. I think it’s a club that will keep growing throughout the season, and that over the next few years we will be able to win important titles.
“I am arriving at a big club like this 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 also think that.
“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.”
He signed off by breaking into song:
“Sunshine through my window
That’s what you are
My shining star
Sunshine
Making me feel
I’m on top of the world
Telling me I’ll go far.”
Let’s hope so.
I have a dream too – I see you and your mates lifting two trophies in not too distant future. One in particular has big ears…with Arsene drenched in champagne.
Dreams do come true.
Since when is Gary Lineker a trophy?
Mourinho’s gang of criminals will be without Costa and Fabregas for a while. Think it is a realistic target to cut the deficit to Chelsea in the League to 6-7pts (from 13 now) between now and the 1st of March.
Arsenal: Aston Villa (H), Tottenham (A), Leicester (H), Crystal Palace (A), Everton (H)
Chelsea: Manchester City (H), Aston Villa (A), Everton (H), Burnley (H), Leicester (A)
The Charles Cup.
Minus the champagne on Arsene though, I don’t want Gabriel shipped to Inter too.
well tell John Lennon about it
Might well be a very clever buy from Arsene. He is also not cuptied for the Champions League.Debut against Villa to let Kos rest for the spuds? I wouldnt mind!
He is cup-tied.
Did they play CL?
I thought they only got into the Europa this season.
Does that stop him playing CL for us?
I don’t think he is cup-tied for the CL. Villareal played in the Europa League, not the CL.
“I see that he’s a coach that has been here for many years and this is important, not only for the team but also for the club. This is very important for everyone that works here in the club, to have a coach like this.”
The players (both at AFC and outside) and most of the supporters see that, so why can’t the whingers?
some also can see we’ve been whipping boys under him, and there’s too many confidence sapping defeats and pegbacks; believe it or not,there are are also a lot of top players choosing other top clubs that we wanted but unable to sign because we just aren’t a winning club…yet
Yet!
He’s been referred to as the “new Andy Lineghan” by some….
Ah, Andy Lineghan. My favourite quote of his was after the cup final when he was asked “is your nose broken?” and he replied “I don’t know but I won’t be picking it for a while”.
I wonder if he’s started again
Wonder if he can smile? Or is he just cultivating his hard man image? Bring on Chelsea and Costa.
I don’t know much about him, but I sure won’t fuck with him! He doesn’t seem like the type of bloke you’d want to bump into in a back alley somewhere eh?
‘First of all I want to thank God for the opportunity’
I always cringe whenever someone says that in an interview, I don’t know why, but it sounds kinda tacky. Still, I like the pretentious edge he shows with talking in the 3rd person, so I’ll let him off. This time.
I am sure he was shitting bricks till he read “so.. i`ll let him off. This time”
Yeah, he’ll get used to the usage of facetiousness in future, as he learns more about the language. So, maybe it isn’t even one strike,
Not tacky. He believes he owes his gift and opportunity to God, so it
would be more unusual not to mention it. As people of faith or not, it should be encouraging that the first words out of someone’s mouth are words of defference – whether to a club or manager or higher power. It shows good character.
I’ve always wanted a nasty bastard of a centre half, and South American centre halfs have a reputation for stopping the opponent through any means necessary. This guy looks the business in terms of not accepting any form of nonsense. Reserving judgement until he plays a bit, but encouraged by this signing.
We had someone called Verminator not long ago.. And we do have Boss-cielny now.. Mean looking.
Ha Ha Ha!!
nawty old school banger tho
welllll……he looks the part (tough, hard?)
………….has no hidden injury?
….reputation says he is a no nonsense kind of defender?
….and being brazilian, must be a street wise defender, and so up to the tricks of tricky poachers such as costa, aguiro, suarez etc
then its a win win.for me, even if he only manages to scare costa off our 18 yard box, then he is already worth the price!…..guess ill just have to wait and see
Not sure if Gabriel has just been misquoted or if Gabriel loves talking about Gabriel in the 3rd person. Either way welcome to the family Gabriel 1, 2 & 3.
Awwww.. Cute, he thanked Dennis. Way to go son, you’ll do good
The picture… the headline … YES !
Anyone see an uncanny resemblance to the former Mighty Gunner Martin Keown