Gabriel says he was always determined to become a defender.
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.
Arsenal’s newest signing has impressed since joining the club and says his “main characteristic” was always to defend.
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“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.”
Gabriel is the Arsenal Magazine's cover star for April
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