Pain in the Arsenal
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Every Brazilian to play for Arsenal – ranked

By Adam Schultz

London, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal's Captain Gilberto Silva (L) celebrates scoring his second penalty, and their third goal against Tottenham Hotspur during the Premiership football match at The Emirates Stadium in London 02 December 2006. Arsenal won the game 3-0. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS Mobile and website uses of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
London, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal's Captain Gilberto Silva (L) celebrates scoring his second penalty, and their third goal against Tottenham Hotspur during the Premiership football match at The Emirates Stadium in London 02 December 2006. Arsenal won the game 3-0. AFP PHOTO ADRIAN DENNIS Mobile and website uses of domestic English football pictures subject to subscription of a license with Football Association Premier League (FAPL) tel : +44 207 298 1656. For newspapers where the football content of the printed and electronic versions are identical, no licence is necessary. (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /
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LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal’s Juan (L) tussles with Grimsby Town’s Paul Groves (R) in The Worthington Cup 4th round match at Highbury in London 27 November 2001. Arsenal’s Brazilian player Edu scored an early first half goal to put Arsenal ahead 1-0 at halftime. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)
LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal’s Juan (L) tussles with Grimsby Town’s Paul Groves (R) in The Worthington Cup 4th round match at Highbury in London 27 November 2001. Arsenal’s Brazilian player Edu scored an early first half goal to put Arsenal ahead 1-0 at halftime. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images) /

11. Juan

One player most Gunners fans would have forgotten. Signed back in 2001 from Sao Paulo, the defender only played twice before the dreaded ACL injury ended his Gunners career.

He was then loaned out to Millwall, but that did not pan out well, and he then returned to Brazil as he earned international caps for his efforts.

10. Denilson

Signed for the Gunners in 2006 and was compared to Cesc Fabregas. When that happens, you never stand a chance, and the Brazilian didn’t. He did play over 100 games for the club but struggled for the most part.

At one stage, it looked like Denilson and Fabregas could partner each other in midfield, but the Brazilian’s fetish for passing sideways and backwards prompted Wenger to turn him into a defensive midfielder, something that didn’t really work either.

9. Gabriel Paulista

Signed from Valencia in 2015, Gabriel Paulista was a solid enough defender. Tough as they come, he often partnered Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny at the heart of the Arsenal defence. Had his good games and his very ordinary games.

Made 64 appearances in total, winning two FA Cups during his time in north London and scored one goal. Not the worst signing by the club.

8. David Luiz

Signed from rivals Chelsea in 2019, Luiz was the ultimate peaks and troughs defender. There were times when he looked like an invaluable leader at centre-back, but other periods when the fundamentals of his function escaped him.

He was much maligned during his time with the Gunners, but the defender was more valued for his leadership rather than his actual gameplay. He was the glue that held the defense together at times and that often goes missing with fans, such was his ability to make a world-class mistake.

Continued on next slide…

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