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Arsenal’s New Signing Reveals Which ‘Invincible’ He Wants To Be Like

By on February 3, 2015

Arsenal’s latest signing Gabriel Paulista has revealed that he wants to emulate Gunners favourite Gilberto Silva.

Gabriel sealed an £11.2m move from Villarreal last week to become the latest Brazilian to play for Arsenal, following in the footsteps of Sylvinho, Edu and most famously Gilberto.

The midfielder made 244 appearances for Arsenal during an illustrious career in North London with his partnership alongside Patrick Vieira in midfield the cornerstone our of ‘Invincibles’ side in 2004.

Gilberto also lifted the World Cup with Brazil in 2002 so it’s no wonder he’s the player Gabriel wants to emulate.

The defender told Arsenal.com that all Brazilian players look up to Gilberto because he’s an inspiration due to what he offers both on and off the pitch. He said:

“I remember Gilberto Silva because he was always with the Brazilian national team,”

“He was a mirror for every Brazilian player and every child, who looked up to Gilberto Silva as a reference. He was an influence for many players, not only Brazilians but players around the world.

“I could see that he was a major element here, he really helped the team, he really is a player I want to emulate because of his type of work and his will to help his team-mates, his will to win as a true Brazilian.

“To me he’s a mirror, so I will always take many good things I saw in him and take it to the pitch, and off the pitch as well, because I think he was an excellent professional who did many good things.

“I want to be like him, to be able to do the most I can to help everyone.”

Obviously Gabriel plays slightly further back than Gilberto did but he also revealed that he actually started out his career as an attacker.

However, the 24-year-old insists he is only focussed on defending now and he’ll never change his position again. He continued:

“There were always small teams close to where I used to live, where my family lived, and I started just as every other child – I was on the attack,” he recalled.

“But I never did well! I kept going back and back through the team, then I went to a club and they put me on the defence, and then I started playing there and it really excited me.

“Nothing would take me out of the defence now. Thanks to God, things worked out, and they have been working out in my life, and I think I will never change my position again!”

Let’s hope Gabriel can go on to achieve what Gilberto did in Arsenal colours but he couldn’t have picked a better example to follow than the ‘invisible wall’.

Gabriel was an unused substitute during our win over Aston Villa on Sunday but he’ll be hoping to get on the pitch when we visit White Hart Lane to face Tottenham on Saturday lunchtime.

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