Every Brazilian to play for Arsenal – ranked

Raphinha from Leeds</a>, Gabriel Jesus from Manchester City, and Richarlison have been rumoured to be wanted at the Emirates.</p> <p>Armed with incredible flair and skills that most can only dream of, the South American contingent of players take our breath away with what they are able to do on the pitch.</p> <h2>Every Brazilian player to play for Arsenal &ndash; ranked</h2> <p>That got us thinking; there have been a fair share of Brazilians to ply their trade in north London, so why not rank them?</p> <h2>15. Wellington Silva</h2> <p>Another one who underwhelmed as he did not play a single game for the Gunners after his move in 2009 at just 16-years-old as his chance to play was delayed until 2011 due to work permit issues.</p> <p>Once dubbed the &ldquo;new Neymar,&rdquo; his Arsenal career never got going as he was sent out on loan in four consecutive seasons before signing with Fluminense in 2016. Another case of a player promising so much but failing to deliver.</p> <h2>14. Pedro Botelho</h2> <p>Signed by the Gunners in 2007 but was immediately loaned out due to work permit issues. Would then spend the next several seasons being loaned out to various sides as he never made an appearance for Arsenal, despite being on their books for five years. Truly one to forget.</p> <h2>13. Willian</h2> <p>Perhaps one of the worst Brazilians to set foot in the Emirates. Signed from Chelsea on a Bosman, Willian was brought to the club by Mikel Arteta to lift the club back to the Champions League.</p> <p>His experience within the Premier League, coupled with his talent, was thought to be a superb piece of business by the club. It wasn&#8217;t. Willian produced poor performance after poor performance, much to the anger and frustration of the Emirates faithful.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/goal/status/1472969196061569025?s=20&#038;t=swZq5mjzfeRvqZIWYqU3cg</p> <p>He now plays for Corinthians after what can only be described as an awful situation all-round.</p> <h2>12. Andre Santos</h2> <p>Like Willian, the less said about Andre Santos in an Arsenal shirt, the better. Signed from Fenerbah&ccedil;e in 2011, no player caused more outrage than the left-back during what was a rather confused period for the club.</p> <p>The attacking side of his game was serviceable, but when he left a lot to be desired in the defensive phase.</p> <p>Often caught out of position or giving away a needless free-kick, Santos could be played through at will sometimes. He did score a neat goal way to Chelsea as Arsenal won 5-3 thanks to a Robin van Persie hat-trick, but that is about it for Santos. Not a good stint in north London.</p> <p><em>Continued on next slide&#8230;</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span>&nbsp;Every Brazilian Player ranked #11-8 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_126833" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" class="wp-image-126833 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1096,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F51514931.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1096" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/51514931.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/51514931-768x526.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM: Arsenal’s Juan (L) tussles with Grimsby Town’s Paul Groves (R) in The Worthington Cup 4th round match at Highbury in London 27 November 2001. Arsenal’s Brazilian player Edu scored an early first half goal to put Arsenal ahead 1-0 at halftime. AFP PHOTO Adrian DENNIS (Photo credit should read ADRIAN DENNIS/AFP via Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>11. Juan</h2> <p>One player most Gunners fans would have forgotten. Signed back in 2001 from Sao Paulo, the defender only played twice before the dreaded ACL injury ended his Gunners career.</p> <p>He was then loaned out to Millwall, but that did not pan out well, and he then returned to Brazil as he earned international caps for his efforts.</p> <h2>10. Denilson</h2> <p>Signed for the Gunners in 2006 and was compared to Cesc Fabregas. When that happens, you never stand a chance, and the Brazilian didn’t. He did play over 100 games for the club but struggled for the most part.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">🗓 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://twitter.com/hashtag/OnThisDay?src=hash&amp;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>#OnThisDay</a> in 2009…</p> <p>🆚 Everton 1-6 Arsenal<br>⚽️ Denilson, Vermaelen, Gallas, Fabregas (2), Eduardo</p> <p>What a strike from Denilson this was! 😱🚀 <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://t.co/ZxkCZ5UJzm">pic.twitter.com/ZxkCZ5UJzm

<p>— Arsenal (@Arsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1161882209852284930?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>August 15, 2019</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>At one stage, it looked like Denilson and Fabregas could partner each other in midfield, but the Brazilian’s fetish for passing sideways and backwards prompted Wenger to turn him into a defensive midfielder, something that didn’t really work either.</p> <h2>9. Gabriel Paulista</h2> <p>Signed from Valencia in 2015, Gabriel Paulista was a solid enough defender. Tough as they come, he often partnered Per Mertesacker or Laurent Koscielny at the heart of the Arsenal defence. Had his good games and his very ordinary games.</p> <p>Made 64 appearances in total, winning two FA Cups during his time in north London and scored one goal. Not the worst signing by the club.</p> <h2>8. David Luiz</h2> <p>Signed from rivals Chelsea in 2019, Luiz was the ultimate peaks and troughs defender. There were times when he looked like an invaluable leader at centre-back, but other periods when the fundamentals of his function escaped him.</p> <p>He was much maligned during his time with the Gunners, but the defender was more valued for his leadership rather than his actual gameplay. He was the glue that held the defense together at times and that often goes missing with fans, such was his ability to make a world-class mistake.</p> <p><em>Continued on next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Every Brazilian Player Ranked #7-4 </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_126832" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-126832 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_1703,w_1600/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F72956210.jpeg" alt="" width="1600" height="1703" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/72956210.jpeg 1600w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/72956210-768x817.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:1600px;">LIVERPOOL, UNITED KINGDOM – JANUARY 09: Julio Baptista (R) of Arsenal celebrates scoring his team’s fifth goal to complete his hat trick with team mate Jeremie Aliadiere during the Carling Cup quarter final match between Liverpool and Arsenal at Anfield on January 9, 2007 in Liverpool, England. (Photo by Alex Livesey/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>7. Julio Baptista</h2> <p>“The Beast” only spent one season in north London, playing 35 games in all competitions, scoring ten goals and grabbing four assists. His deal with the Gunners saw Jose Antonio Reyes move in the other direction to Real Madrid.</p> <p>During his year-old stint in north London, Baptista is best remembered for his brace against Spurs at White Hart Land and his four-goal effort against Liverpool.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/EbukaMeansGreat/status/1347854536606670848?s=20&amp;t=swZq5mjzfeRvqZIWYqU3cg</p> <p>He came with an outstanding reputation in Spain, but as we know, England is a different league, and the Brazilian could never hold down a regular spot in the Arsenal team and was sent back to Spain.</p> <h2>6. Gabriel Martinelli</h2> <p>Martinelli was signed in 2019 from Ituano and was essentially a hit from the outset. His speed, willingness to hunt and harass the opposition, and his great finishing ability saw him play in 26 games across all competitions, netting 11 goals and four assists before his knee injury halted his progression.</p> <p>He was back last season, playing in 36 games in all competitions, scoring six goals and assisting six times as he became a regular starter for Mikel Arteta. Has the potential to be on the same level as Bukayo Saka if his upwards trajectory continues.</p> <h2>5. Edu</h2> <p>Probably unlucky not to be higher on the list, but Edu lands at number five. Currently the technical director for the Gunners, we should not forget the player he was for the club.</p> <p>During his time in north London, Edu won two league titles along with two FA Cups, and during the club’s famous invincible season, he played 30 league games. He was a severely underrated player as he became an integral part of the Gunners team that swept all before them in 2003/04.</p> <h2>4. Eduardo</h2> <p>Despite him being listed as Croatian, Eduardo was born in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, so we thought he deserves to be on the list. He had the potential to become an Arsenal great following his move from Dinamo Zagreb. He had everything you could want in an Arsenal player; flair, goalscoring ability, and he never shirked away from a challenge.</p> <p>https://twitter.com/Arsenal/status/1100029778621595655?s=20&amp;t=swZq5mjzfeRvqZIWYqU3cg</p> <p>Who can forget the tackle that many say cost Arsenal the Premier League in February 2008? A tackle from Birmingham’s Matt Taylor left Eduardo with a broken left fibula and an open dislocation to his left ankle.</p> <p>He scored 20 goals and 17 assists from his 67 appearances in all competitions but was never the same after his horror leg injury.</p> <p><em>Continued on next slide…</em></p> <div class="next-slide slider"> <a class="next-slide-btn" style="background: #c01f2f" data-track="shortcode" data-track-action="next-slide-shortcode" href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"#"> <span class="title">Next:</span> Top 3 Brazilians to play for Arsenal </a> </div><!—pageview_candidate—><hr id="pagebreak"><div id="attachment_126831" class="wp-caption aligncenter"> <img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="wp-image-126831 size-full" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/fetch/c_fill,g_auto,f_auto,h_2134,w_3200/https%3A%2F%2Fpaininthearsenal.com%2Fwp-content%2Fuploads%2Fgetty-images%2F2017%2F07%2F1240850679.jpeg" alt="" width="3200" height="2134" srcset="https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240850679.jpeg 3200w, https://paininthearsenal.com/wp-content/uploads/getty-images/2017/07/1240850679-768x512.jpeg 768w" sizes="(max-width: 3200px) 100vw, 3200px"><div class="fs-center-img"> <p class="wp-caption-text" style="width:3200px;">LONDON, ENGLAND – MAY 22: Gabriel of Arsenal celebrates scoring his goal with Cedric Soares during the Premier League match between Arsenal and Everton at Emirates Stadium on May 22, 2022 in London, United Kingdom. (Photo by Marc Atkins/Getty Images)</p> </div> </div> <h2>3. Gabriel</h2> <p>Signed from French side Lille, Gabriel has been nothing short of sensational since arriving in north London. Tough, hard, and gritty, the 24-year-old has quickly become a leader on the pitch and one of the first names Mikel Arteta puts on the teamsheet.</p> <p>The central defender has scored eight times in his Gunners career, with five of them coming this past season. Truly an outstanding player and is only going to get better. He has formed a great partnership with Benjamin White as the pair has eased Arsenal’s defensive woes so much that the defence isn’t the area needed to strengthen this upcoming window. A super signing.</p> <h2>2. Sylvinho</h2> <p>Arriving from Corinthians on a Bosman in 1999, the left-back was sensational for the Gunners. With other Brazilian left-backs and defenders made fans worry and cringe, Sylvinho didn’t. His stay in England was very brief, but during his time, he made his presence felt.</p> <p>In 2000/01, he was named in the PFA Team of the Year as the best left-back in the league, but rather oddly, just weeks later, he was sold to Celta Vigo, and that was that. It was rumored that his sale was to make room for emerging left-back Ashley Cole.</p> <h2>1. Gilberto Silva</h2> <p>The best Brazilian to have worn an Arsenal shirt, and it isn’t even close. Signed after his outstanding performances for Brazil at the 2002 World Cup, Silva was everything Arsenal needed as he provided the perfect foil for Patrick Vieira.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-width="500" data-dnt="true"> <p lang="en" dir="ltr">It takes just 20 seconds to wash your hands to help stop the spread of Coronavirus, the same time it took Arsenal Invincible Gilberto Silva to score vs PSV. Do it. <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://t.co/h0abyqFOM0">pic.twitter.com/h0abyqFOM0

<p>— AfcVIP⁴⁹ (@VipArsenal) <a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://twitter.com/VipArsenal/status/1240585036086284288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw%22>March 19, 2020</a></p></blockquote> <p><script async src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></p></div> <p>As Vieira got more involved in the final third, Silva was the player to bring calmness and balance to the Gunners midfield, in a similar fashion to Emmanuel Petit before him. His defensive prowess earned him the nickname “the invisible wall,” and rightly so as he was never in the limelight, instead going about his business quietly as others collected the plaudits.</p> <p>He was a key member of the Invincibles team as he allowed the likes of Vieira, Dennis Bergkamp, Robert Pires, and Thierry Henry to do their thing going forward while he swept up anything left behind with aplomb.</p> <div class="embed "> <blockquote class="wp-embedded-content" data-secret="dkZcoPUk8v"><p><a href=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/arsenal-arteta-and-edu-turn-to-brazil-this-summer/">Arsenal, Mikel Arteta &amp; Edu Gaspar turn to Brazil this summer</a></p></blockquote> <p><iframe class="wp-embedded-content" sandbox="allow-scripts" security="restricted" style="position: absolute; clip: rect(1px, 1px, 1px, 1px);" src=https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/13/every-brazilian-play-arsenal-ranked/"https://paininthearsenal.com/2022/06/11/arsenal-arteta-and-edu-turn-to-brazil-this-summer/embed/#?secret=dkZcoPUk8v" data-secret="dkZcoPUk8v" width="500" height="282" title="“Arsenal, Mikel Arteta &amp; Edu Gaspar turn to Brazil this summer” — Pain in the Arsenal" frameborder="0" marginwidth="0" marginheight="0" scrolling="no"></iframe></p></div> <p>Selling him to Greek side Panathinaikos in 2008 will go down as the worst mistake Arsene Wenger made during his time with Arsenal. A mistake that the club took over a decade to rectify.</p><!—pageview_candidate—>">