Player profile: Arsenal's likely new defender Gabriel Paulista

Arsene Wenger has admitted that Arsenal are in dire need of a new centre-back and the search has led the Gunners to Villarreal's Gabriel Paulista.

It's easy to see why: the Spanish side have been hard to break down this season, having conceded just 17 goals in 19 games - Paulista has played in all of them.

Wenger likes versatility - a man that can be deployed on the left, right or in the centre and Paulista fits that bill perfectly.

Although the 24-year-old fits in best as a right-sided centre-back he possesses an all too rare ability in modern football - he's more than comfortable using either foot.

He did so to good effect when playing as part of a defensive trio during his days at Brazilian club Vitoria. In fact, he played so well he was elected the best central defender of the Campeonato Baiano tournament that Vitoria won in 2013.

That earned him a move to Spain in August later that year but he wasn't immediately considered a first-team regular. However, due to his versatility and some injuries to team-mates, Paulista racked up 21 appearances, which included time at centre-back and left-back.

This season he's played more than any other player at Villarreal and has demonstrated why they were keen to slap a £15million buy-out clause on him.

The Brazilian has never featured for his country, but his recent good form followed by a move to a top Premier League side, would surely put him firmly on Dunga's radar.

Fast, an accurate tackler and good on the ball - it's natural that the Brazilian has drawn comparisons to Arsenal's best defender Laurent Koscielny; he's of similar build too and is strong in the air.

Would Paulista slot straight into Arsenal's first eleven? It's hard to say. Over Per Mertesacker? Unlikely. The big German will take the armband in the injured Arteta's absence.

Although he's compared to Koscielny, he's not getting ahead of him any time soon. The Frenchman's Achilles is made of glass and Paulista is strong-minded and tough enough to tackle the rigours of the Premier League head on, meaning he might get a chance sooner rather than later to prove himself.

Being a utility man also has its obvious benefits and Mathieu Debuchy's absence at right-back coupled with the ability to play on the left means the Brazilian should see plenty of Premier League minutes before the end of the season.

In the absence of a world-class defender being available, Paulista is a safe and obvious acquisition for Arsene Wenger.