Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Villarreal defender Gabriel Paulista, for a reported fee of £11.2m, in a deal that saw forward Joel Campbell joining the La Liga giants on a season long loan. 

Paulista was granted a work permit despite not having played for Brazil. The 24-year-old has been in great form this season and could be a key player for Wenger’s side. He becomes the second major signing for the Gunners in the January transfer window, with Arsenal having signed 17-year-old Croatian midfielder Krystian Bielik. 

Paulista shared his feelings about joining Arsenal:

First of all I want to thank God for the opportunity. It’s another dream in my career that has come true. I have only just arrived but I am already feeling really good here in London. I’m at a top club so that gives me more strength to be able to work and carry on, to be able to conquer much more in my career.

Paulista’s message for the Arsenal fans:

I am arriving at a big club like this and the fans can expect to find a Gabriel with a great will to help everyone. Not just thinking of me as an individual, because to me that is not important. I care more about helping the team and my team-mates also think that. I want to help everyone, so the fans can expect a Gabriel that on the field has a lot of will to be able to help the team win important things.

Read the full interview of Gabriel Paulista here