Gabriel scores first goal for Arsenal

Arsenal centre half Gabriel notched his first goal for Arsenal last night and his first in English football, since signing from Villarreal in January 2015. The Brazilian defender had an excellent game, winning six interceptions and registering two shots on target as the Gunners overcame Bournemouth 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium. Gabriel opened the scoring […]
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sambafoot_admin
2015-12-30 01:30:00

Arsenal centre half Gabriel notched his first goal for Arsenal last night and his first in English football, since signing from Villarreal in January 2015. The Brazilian defender had an excellent game, winning six interceptions and registering two shots on target as the Gunners overcame Bournemouth 2-0 at the Emirates Stadium.

Gabriel opened the scoring for the London side in the 27th minute as he attacked Mesut Özil’s pinpoint corner, before burying a header high into the net. He nearly repeated the trick six minutes later. On this occasion, he made a near post run, meeting another Özil corner, only to glance a header onto the post.

Gabriel is the first Brazilian player to score for the Gunners since André Santos’ long range effort in a 3-2 win over West Brom in May 2012. Gabriel joins Silvinho, Edu Gaspar, Gilberto Silva, Denilson, Julio Baptista and André Santos as Brazilians to have scored goals for Arsenal. Eduardo da Silva, a Croatian national but born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, makes up the numbers on this list.

Gabriel tweeted “About last night, very happy with my first goal for Arsenal. #GabrielisaGunner #OurHouseOurRules” in recognition of his first strike for Arsenal. It’s his first goal in Europe, having not registered for Villarreal, and only the 8th of his career. He scored 7 times for Salvador club Vitoria, for whom he played from 2010 – 2013.