Arsenal seem to be kicking it in high gear with news coming in that they are on the verge of signing a defender. Yes, Gunner fans, Arsene Wenger seems to have gotten his priorities right and he might be on the way to sign a defender, something that Arsenal have been needing for quite a while.
Gabriel Paulista is the player who is currently linked with a move to the Emirates, the Brazilian has been playing in La Liga and is only 24 years old, surely fitting in with the idea of bringing in young players at Arsenal but who is he? We look at the young Brazilian and provide a scouting report on what he really is made of.
Brazil to Spain
Paulista was born in Sao Paulo and was part of the youth setup at Esporte Clube Vitoria. He made his debut for the senior team in March, 2010. He made his debut for the Brazilian Serie A in May, 2010. His breakthrough season came in the 2013 season when he was selected as the best central defender of the 2013 Campeonato Baiano.
At the end of the 2012-13 season he was signed on by La Liga club Villareal and he has been a regular starter for the Yellow Submarines and it seems that Paulista is ready to make a switch to the Premier League after a great start in La Liga.
Playing Style
The young Brazilian defender is decent on the ball as he has played in La Liga which does require players to be more adept at playing with the ball from the back. Paulista has been a regular at Villareal this season having made 26 appearances in all competitions for the club.
Paulista is versatile and can be played as either a left back or a right back which shows that he is comfortable going ahead to join the attack as well but he prefers to play in the heart of the defence. The versatility is one factor that always seems to get the attention of Arsene Wenger with recent signing Calum Chambers also being looked as someone who can play both as a central defender and a right/left back as and when required. He will definitely add much need defensive depth to Arsenal squad.
The good news for Arsene and Arsenal would be that the player would come on the cheap from Villareal and him being young would mean that he can still learn from the English game, Arsene would have his work cut out on making him a top defender and at 24 years of age, Paulista does not have a lot of time to learn and would need to hit the ground running if he is to join Arsenal.