Gabriel Paulista: 5 Qualities Villarreal Centre-Back Can Bring to Arsenal
Arsenal are set to sign Villarreal CF man Gabriel Paulista this January, reports claim, and the centre-back could be the transfer that Gunners fans have been waiting for.
With questions over the long-term fitness and form of current first-choice partnership Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker respectively, a new centre-back has been rightly made a January priority.
Dominic Fifield of the Guardian claims that manager Arsene Wenger, frugal as ever, is keen to land the defender "for an initial £6 million with add-ons to take the fee potentially beyond £10 million."
However, with the two clubs reportedly in negotiations for a fee, any deal "may well end up hinging on [Arsenal's] ability to obtain a work permit for the Brazilian."
Wenger may need to convince the Football Association, acting on behalf of the Home office, that Gabriel is an "exceptional talent."
With that in mind, here are five qualities that Gabriel would bring to Arsenal, including a positive view to the future.
Defensive Intelligence
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The main positive attribute of Gabriel's game is his defensive intelligence.
Coming from a long line of cultured Brazilian centre-backs, the Villarreal man prefers to read danger and intercept play rather than directly confront situations physically.
This season, Gabriel has made on average 3.5 interceptions per game and just 0.8 tackles per game.
These qualities suit Arsenal's current defensive system adroitly, with Koscielny and Mertesacker both similar in terms of playing style.
Koscielny has an average of 3.6 interceptions and 1.3 tackles, while Mertesacker averages at 2.1 interceptions and 0.9 tackles per game.
An intelligent, measured defensive prospect, Gabriel would have no trouble slotting into Wenger's current setup.
A Direct Option
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Arsenal's 2-0 win over Manchester City on Sunday highlighted an interesting switch in tactics from Wenger, with the Gunners opting for a more defensive, direct style of play on their way to victory.
At the Etihad Stadium, Arsenal had just 35 percent of overall ball possession.
Sky Sports' Monday Night Football uncovered an interesting statistic via their Twitter account, showing how Arsenal have thrived when their possession is at its lowest, with seven wins and a draw from their last eight games in this respect.
Gabriel is a centre-back who can attune to this style of play, as an effective passer from range.
This season, the 24-year-old has made an average of three long balls per La Liga game—double the amount of Mertesacker (1.5) and just below Koscielny's average of 3.1.
When Arsenal need to go direct, Gabriel would be a better option than Mertesacker.
European Experience
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Arsenal's failure to hold on to a three-goal lead in November's eventual 3-3 Champions League draw at home to RSC Anderlecht not only pointed to a tactical failure by Wenger, but also a lack of experience at European level in the Gunners' defence.
Wenger's back four on the night included Calum Chambers at right-back and Nacho Monreal at centre-back.
The former had no European experience before joining Arsenal, with the latter inexperienced in his fielded position.
On that night, Arsenal needed a Europe-hardened defender to take hold of the situation and shore up a leaky back line, something which Mertesacker failed to manage.
Impressive in his side's Europa League campaign this season, helping Villarreal to four clean sheets from the qualifiers to the group stage, Gabriel has that experience.
Welcoming AS Monaco to the Emirates Stadium at the end of February, Arsenal could do with Gabriel.
Tactical Versatility
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Wenger is a manager with a penchant for defensive versatility, from Kolo Toure playing centre-back, right-back and defensive midfield at the beginning of his Gunners tenure, to Chambers doing the same this season.
On Chambers' signing, Wenger praised how he "can play at centre-back, right-back and central midfield...I hope he will give us competition for the players in those three positions," as reported by FourFourTwo.
Gabriel is similarly versatile, having played at both left and right centre-back for Villarreal, as well as two appearances at left-back in La Liga this season.
With Mertesacker showing signs of age and the likes of Koscielny and left-back Kieran Gibbs consistently injured, Gabriel's tactical versatility would be key for Wenger.
Long-Term Stability
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At 24, Gabriel would join Arsenal at the same age as Koscielny was when he moved to north London in 2010.
On Koscielny's transfer from Lorient, BBC Sport quoted Wenger as claiming: "We identified him as a very strong centre-half, who has made big progress very quickly."
When the centre-back signed a new contract with the club last year, Wenger told Arsenal.com that "Laurent has proven himself to be an outstanding player since joining us."
Koscielny was a gamble by Wenger, but the manager has seen his compatriot grow into one of the Premier League's leading centre-backs and a leader for Arsenal.
Gabriel can do the same.
Far from previously linked targets such as the well-established Mats Hummels, Gabriel may be another risk like Koscielny but, with the January market notoriously sparse, this could pay off significantly for Arsenal.
Statistics via WhoScored.com.
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