Saw that after having visited the Arsenal forum.

I didn't see him other than that video. Sorry to be negative, but I saw nothing special. You can see there why he gets many interceptions, but I could also see a guy who will cause us and team mates several heart attacks. Far from that reassuring feeling you get seeing Kos. Hesitant, looks like not the greatest at decision making, and I didn't see something special on the ball (as you'd expect from a Brazilian player). But that is very little to go by, admittedly. 

Seemed to me like much of the youtube footage was taken from the games where he played as a fullback and not a centreback.

Gabriel left out of Villarreal squad to face Levante tomorrow night.

#WelcomeGabby

http://highburyclock.com/2015/01/21/an-introduction-to-gabriel-paulista/

I think we should change his name to Keowncielny.

Does this guy prefer to play on the left or on the right in central defence, by the way? All I could find about him suggests that he's capable of covering for the fullbacks on both flanks.

Klaus wrote:

Does this guy prefer to play on the left or on the right in central defence, by the way? All I could find about him suggests that he's capable of covering for the fullbacks on both flanks.

Not exactly proof, but I checked Eurosport's lineups for the last five matches. They've set him up on the right side every time.

He looks like he can put some muscle on his frame. Worried a bit about his first touch, I think it's a bit shaky. Upside seems there though, we'll see what Wenger can make out of him.

Gabby is not a good name for a guy.
He's a mystery to me as I've never seen him play a game live.

By the way he goes by Gabriel.. Since I'm guessing people will call him Paulista. When I ask friends who follow La Liga what they think of Paulista, they don't even know who I'm talking about.

Gabriel pronounced the Spanish way sounds fine.

You mean Gaabrizhej?

I'll probably just use the Norwegian way.

Isn't that just the wrong way but faster?

Ah, all them Norway jokes are coming back to me now.

It's called Norweger.

What Norway jokes? People joke about us?!

Kike Marin** @Kike_Marin_ · 3h 3 hours ago
Acuerdo entre #Arsenal y #Villarreal para el traspaso de Gabriel. Alrededor de 18 millones de €. El central podría estar viajando a Londres.

Kike Marin** @Kike_Marin_ · 3h 3 hours ago
La #RealSociedad tenía acuerdo con el agente de Joel Campbell, pero el #Arsenal ha cerrado acuerdo para cedérselo al Villarreal hasta junio.

What's that say? Joel going the other way?

Unless I'm mistaken it says that he was on the verge of signing for Sociedad but he'll be loaned out to Villarreal instead until June.

Yep, he was about to sign for Sociedad on loan but will now move to Villarreal instead. Many Spanish sources also claim that he will sign a new deal and then move on loan, like Ryo.

Wenger was adamant he want him to stay... wonder what has changed apart from the fact that Villarreal wanted him in the deal badly.

Done deal: https://twitter.com/VillarrealCF

Villarreal site is down right now: http://www.villarrealcf.es/en/

naz wrote:

Done deal: https://twitter.com/VillarrealCF

Villarreal site is down right now: http://www.villarrealcf.es/en/

Came to post this. Damn you!

Campbell on loan as part of the deal.

Never seen him play but he looks like he has some warrior potential.

Nice. Deadline day can do one.

Now we have to worry about the work permit.

11m pound deal with Joel moving the other way on loan. We have finally relented with their request, could have been done much earlier if we agreed the loan which was what was delaying the deal. This means Joel won't start tomorrow's match too.

I'll be shocked if he doesn't get a work permit.

General Mirth wrote:

I'll be shocked if he doesn't get a work permit.

I think it's pretty clear that the work permit was what was holding up the whole process. Now we've gotten word that he'll get one so they're announcing it. Why the hell would they publicly bid a player farewell unless they were sure he was leaving?

Wenger wouldn't of signed him if there was any doubt about him getting a work permit.

Villareal saying goodbye to Gabriel tonight at the match against Levante.

Arsenal haven't announced it, seems like Villareal are being quick to tie this one up, but the work permit issues aren't Villareal's problem.

Our most expensive defender = you'd expect him to start, however we paid more for Welbeck than Giroud so I guess price has no impact when talking about AW's favourites/projects.

I'll wait to give any welcomes until we know if he can actually play for us this season.

We have his work permit sorted, wouldnt have signed him otherwise, because Wenger told we need someone now and that's why we're signing him now. We always announce after he has done photoshoots, interviews etc. so as always, we're waiting behind our media machine.