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Arsenal star explains transition from striker to defender
ARSENAL centre-half Gabriel Paulista reveals he started as a striker before deciding to become a defender.
Gabriel Paulista Player Profile
The Brazilian - who earned his first international call-up last week - joined the Gunners in January for £11m.
The 24-year-old has featured five times for Arsene Wenger's men in the heart of the defence.
But at one point Gabriel tried out every position on the pitch, other than between the sticks.
"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 said.
When we are little, we always want to be on the attack
"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."
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