Pain in the Arsenal
Fansided

Gabriel Paulista Is A Blessing To Arsenal

By Josh Sippie

facebooktwitterreddit

When Arsene Wenger acquired Gabriel Paulista last winter, it was kind of big news. We finally had center back coverage for when Per Mertesacker just was not enough or for when Laurent Koscielny got hurt. Now, suddenly, Gabriel Paulista may be the best defender on Arsenal’s roster.

More from Pain in the Arsenal

It was not all milk and honey when he started, though. Gabriel Paulista had a few mental mistakes at the beginning of it all. But after witnessing his unbelievably timed tackle on Romelu Lukaku in the 16-yard box, it was obvious. This guy was going to be superb.

Call it another slick Arsene Wenger signing. For around £13 million, Arsenal acquired the next great Brazilian centerback. I have said this before but I will say it again, having Gabriel at center back is like having another Francis Coquelin on the pitch. The timing of his tackling is superb and his aggression and proactive defending ensures that even once Laurent Koscielny is gone, we will still have his style of defending.

Gabriel is also the poster child of Arsenal’s defensive evolution. From Per Mertesacker to Gabriel Paulista. You don’t get much more of an infusion of athleticism than that.

But just how good is Gabriel Paulista? Statistics have been revealed to show that Arsenal have not conceded a goal with the Brazilian on the pitch. Let that sink in a second. As long as Gabriel is on the pitch, Arsenal have not surrendered a goal.

A lot of that can be chalked up to the team’s performance, and not specifically because of Gabriel’s presence. But do not for a second believe that it is all luck and circumstance. Gabriel on the pitch is a machine. No one gets past him. The combination of he and Koscielny is just about impenetrable.

What makes this even more inspiring is the story behind Gabriel Paulista’s footballing career. Part of what makes Alexis Sanchez so special is the back story. He came from poverty in a small Chilean village to become a star.

More from Arsenal News

Gabriel Paulista is on that same road. In a recent interview with Arsenal Player, the Brazilian spoke of his path to where he is now. Just like Alexis, he started from poverty and used football to escape that poverty. It was not an easy childhood and he used that as motivation to escape it and provide a better life for himself. Playing with that kind of motivation never goes away. That intensity that he taught himself as a child is with him to this day. You cannot teach that kind of play.

Again, it is just like Alexis Sanchez. Even the way that he runs comes down to him not having cleats when he was younger. You cannot teach that passion and that desperation in their play.

Arsenal’s defense is blessed to have Gabriel Paulista on it. He will be a mainstay for years to come.

Next: Arsenal's Top 10 Home Kits Of All Time

More from Pain in the Arsenal

Home/Arsenal News