Arsenal FC defender, Gabriel, says he was always determined to become a defender.
Arsenal’s newest signing has impressed since joining the club and says his “main characteristic” was always to defend.
The 24-year-old began his career at Brazilian side, Esporte Clube Vitoria and, but for a short spell as a right winger, has played his entire career at the back.
“When we are little, we always want to be on the attack, but I realised that it wouldn’t work, so I kept going backwards and backwards,” Gabriel told the Arsenal Magazine.
“The only thing I didn’t try was being a goalkeeper. I stopped there.
“So I started to play in defence and I started to do well, I started to enjoy it. I made my decision, I thought: ‘This it is! I’m not leaving here’.
“I began enjoying it and I started to want to defend, to fight not to let them in, not to let the other team score goals.
“I always have that in my head – to want to defend, and defend well. And that is why.”
The centre back joined a select band of Brazilians when he joined the Gunners in January, following in the footsteps of Sylvinho and Edu.
He was named on Arsenal’s bench for the first time in their 5-0 win against Aston Villa on Sunday, February 1.
