Gabriel Paulista: I Got Butterflies In My Stomach Playing At The Emirates

Arsenal new boy Gabriel Paulista has revealed what it meant to him to make his debut at the Emirates.

The Brazilian defender made his first appearance for the Gunners last Sunday against Middlesborough in the fifth round of the FA Cup and felt it was only natural to feel a bit nervous.

The match went well for Paulista and his teammates. A 2-0 win was enough to see Arsenal through to the quarter finals where they’ll meet Manchester United.

Paulista couldn’t have been happier kick-starting his Arsenal career with a clean sheet but said he remained calm throughout:

“When I was told I would play I felt really calm, then on matchday I was still calm,” the defender told Arsenal.com.

“As soon as we got to the stadium I felt butterflies in my stomach because I think it is normal for every player to feel that way. The day you stop feeling nervous is the day you should stop playing football.

“I had that feeling but as soon as I stepped on the pitch it was all gone. The feeling in my stomach went away. I saw that wonderful crowd, that great show, that beautiful stadium and the game became quite relaxed.

“And in relation to understanding my team-mates, I always wanted to be tuned into what [Laurent Koscielny] was doing so I could try doing the same. I tried to listen to him as well, to listen to a few words.

“In my [English] lessons I always ask the teacher to teach me the main words we use on the pitch, like “defend, leave, go back”. So I had no difficulty with my defensive partner. We understood each other really well, and the most important thing is that we managed to win the game.”