Arsene Wenger: Gabriel Paulista ready to make Arsenal debut against Villa

Arsenal's new signing Gabriel Paulista could make his Premier League debut against Aston Villa, manager Arsene Wenger said on Friday (January 30).

The 24-year-old defender joined the Gunners from Spanish side Villarreal earlier this week and Wenger is confident the Brazilian will provide stiff competition for first-choice central defenders Laurent Koscielny and Per Mertesacker.

"He's ready to go. He'll be in the squad, certainly, and it started yesterday, he is training and he looks fit," Wenger told a news conference at the club training ground at London Colney.

"We have always to give some time to adapt, especially in a defensive position because you need to know your partners. At the moment he doesn't speak a word of English you know and that can cost you goals. If you mix going forward with going backwards it can cost you, it's a position where you need to know your partners and where you need to communicate as well," Wenger added.

When asked how Wenger will deal with the Brazilian's lack of English, he joked:

"We try to teach him the important words, 'offside' for example, 'look at the linesman' ."

With the January transfer window drawing to a close, Wenger, who has signed Gabriel and young Polish midfielder Krystian Bielik this month, does not expect to make more additions to his squad.

"Look, number-wise we look alright now, and quality as well," the Frenchman said.

Having beaten champions Manchester City 2-0 in their last Premier League game two weeks ago, Wenger is hoping his side can put a run of results together as they bid for a top-four finish.

"That's our target, you know but we want of course complete focus and commitment and be completely concentrated on what we want to achieve. I think we know we have some ground to make up and that the fight around, in the top four is very difficult so the target is of course consistency now," Wenger said.