Denilson's discreet rise and fall at Arsenal

The Brazilian came out of nowhere to play regularly for the Gunners a decade ago, but he was unable to kick on and is now struggling to play at all
"He's a little bit in between Tomas Rosicky and Gilberto."

That's how Arsene Wenger described a young Brazilian by the name of Denilson when Arsenal took a gamble on the unknown 18-year-old in 2006. 

After just a handful of appearances for Serie A side Sao Paulo, the midfielder had managed to attract the attention of the Frenchman, who saw something special in a skinny teenager who had survived growing up in violent neighbourhood.

"I saw a lot going on, just running into the house. Even at curfew, there was a lot of gunfire," Denilson told Globo.com in 2011.
 

"I have many childhood friends. Some have died for making the wrong choices."

Denilson's obsession with football steered him in the right direction, though.

Even in Brazil, though, Denilson was still a relative unknown at the time of his move to England.

"We all thought it a bit strange when he went to Arsenal," former Brazil striker Tostao told The Guardian.

"He had played only a few times for his club. He was discreet, he never stood out.

"I only saw him a couple of times – he was basically a reserve."

Despite those unremarkable beginnings, Denilson made a promising start to his Arsenal career.

He featured 19 times during his debut campaign, starting three Premier League games, as well as the Gunners' Champions League last-16 second leg against PSV, in which he registered an assist in a 1-1 draw. 





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