Gabriel responds over Wenger language barrier concerns

Gabriel: Allayed language concerns

Gabriel: Allayed language concerns

Arsenal defender Gabriel Paulista claims he has no problems understanding his team-mates on the pitch after Arsene Wenger recently voiced concerns over the language barrier.

Wenger last week admitted: “I would prefer him to have better English.”

But Gabriel says he can already understand his Gunners team-mates and claims he is “improving”.

“I already understand my team-mates on the pitch. I still miss some things but I am improving,” Gabriel told IBTimes UK.

“I’m really well. I’m already 100% recovered from my last injury and now I just have to keep working to improve further.

“I still have a long way [to feel like a starter]. I’m working very hard [to get it] but the competition is high because my team-mates are at the top level. I am training very hard and trying to take every opportunity in the games and I think I’m doing things right.”

The 25-year-old centre-back, who has made 19 appearances, has started the last three games with Laurent Kocielny out injured.