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, ENGLAND – MAY 22: Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates scoring his goal with Cedric Soares during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on May 22, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)
LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 22: Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates scoring his goal with Cedric Soares during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on May 22, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images) /

3. Gabriel

Signed from French side Lille, Gabriel has been nothing short of sensational since arriving in north London. Tough, hard, and gritty, the 24-year-old has quickly become a leader on the pitch and one of the first names Mikel Arteta puts on the teamsheet.

The central defender has scored eight times in his Gunners career, with five of them coming this past season. Truly an outstanding player and is only going to get better. He has formed a great partnership with Benjamin White as the pair has eased Arsenal’s defensive woes so much that the defence isn’t the area needed to strengthen this upcoming window. A super signing.

2. Sylvinho

Arriving from Corinthians on a Bosman in 1999, the left-back was sensational for the Gunners. With other Brazilian left-backs and defenders made fans worry and cringe, Sylvinho didn’t. His stay in England was very brief, but during his time, he made his presence felt.

In 2000/01, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year as the best left-back in the league, but rather oddly, just weeks later, he was sold to Celta Vigo, and that was that. It was rumored that his sale was to make room for emerging left-back Ashley Cole.

1. Gilberto Silva

The best Brazilian to have worn an Arsenal shirt, and it isn’t even close. Signed after his outstanding performances for Brazil at the 2002 World Cup, Silva was everything Arsenal needed as he provided the perfect foil for Patrick Vieira.

As Vieira got more involved in the final third, Silva was the player to bring calmness and balance to the Gunners midfield, in a similar fashion to Emmanuel Petit before him. His defensive prowess earned him the nickname “the invisible wall,” and rightly so as he was never in the limelight, instead going about his business quietly as others collected the plaudits.

He was a key member of the Invincibles team as he allowed the likes of Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, and Thierry Henry to do their thing going forward while he swept up anything left behind with aplomb.

Selling him to Greek side Panathinaikos in 2008 will go down as the worst mistake Arsene Wenger made during his time with Arsenal. A mistake that the club took over a decade to rectify.

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