Gabriel Paulista could make his debut in defence when the FA Cup holders Arsenal play Middlesbrough in Sunday’s quarter-final at the Emirates Stadium.
The defender moved to London from Villarreal during the January transfer window and Arsène Wenger said on Friday that his bow for the club was coming soon. “He’s very close [to making his debut]. He likes to defend. It’s more and more difficult to find people like that. [He is] a player who has overall good qualities: good pace, good in the air, good in one against one. But it’s best I don’t talk too much and let him play and he shows how good he is.”
One player who is unlikely to feature against Middlesbrough, however, is Alexis Sánchez, after he received a blow to the knee against Leicester City. Wenger may have the midfielder Jack Wilshere available though after a lengthy spell out following ankle surgery.
“Alexis Sánchez is still not able to go out [to training]. He could be short,” Wenger said. “Jack Wilshere is back in normal training but he has been out for four months and misses competition. He worked very hard, focused, committed, but it will take him a while to get back to a competitive level.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, Mikel Arteta and Mathieu Debuchy all remain out. “The closest of the three is Chamberlain,” added Wenger. “He might be two weeks away, or three weeks away, maximum. The others are a bit longer.”