Arsene Wenger has expressed concern for a new arrival to the Gunners, Gabriel Paulista, based on the center back’s knowledge of the English language.
Signed from Spanish outfit Villarreal for a $16.94 million (£11 million) fee during last month’s transfer window, Paulista is set to make his debut for the Gunners in their FA Cup match against Middlesbrough.
[RELATED: FA Cup preview--Possible upsets]
Wenger stated that, specifically for a player at the back, communication is essential for controlling a game. He also mentioned that the Brazilian will avoid viewing the news, which could serve as a negative source of scruinty.
From BBC Sport:“When you don’t speak English and you don’t understand ‘Come out, come back, right, left’, it is a problem for a defender,” Wenger said.
“You need to know the key words. Offside. Referee. Foul.”
“The players are always under tremendous pressure because everything they do is analysed by the pundits and the press...The modern player has to live with that - resistance to stress has to be stronger than it was 10 years ago.
“He (Gabriel) will not read the press. He will just focus on his game - that is one of the advantages.”
Whether or not the language barrier will legitimately affect the play of the Gunners’ newcomer remains to be seen. But on the grounds that Paulista presents a big risk, a shrewd manager like Wenger should know how to approach the situation on Saturday.
Arsenal’s central defense, fronted by Per Mertesacker and Laurent Koscielny, definitely necessitated a boost from the transfer market, and in the wake of injury, they, along with the rest of the squad, can only hope Paulista will contribute right off the bat.