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Denílson Pereira Neves

Denílson Pereira Neves, known as Denílson (born on February 16, 1988 in São Paulo, Brazil) is a Brazilian footballer who usually plays as a central midfielder with a defensive role. He plays for English side Arsenal and is currently the captain of the Brazil under-20 national team.

Club career

São Paulo

He started his career at São Paulo, where he was part of the side that won the 2005 Copa Libertadores and the 2005 FIFA Club World Cup. However, he was "basically a reserve" for São Paulo, having only made twelve appearances for the club, eight of those coming off the substitutes' bench.

Arsenal

2006–07 season

On 31 August 2006, Denílson joined English club Arsenal for a fee of £3.4 million (US$6.5 million), wearing the number 15. Many were surprised by his transfer to Arsenal because of his lack of experience in club football. He has been described as "a little bit in between Tomáš Rosický and Gilberto" by Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger.

Denílson was included in Arsenal's 18-man squad that travelled to face CSKA Moscow in the UEFA Champions League on 17 October 2006; he was named on the substitutes bench for the match, but did not play. He had to wait until 24 October 2006 for his first-team debut, when he started a Carling Cup third round match against West Bromwich Albion. He was ever-present in Arsenal's 2006–07 Carling Cup campaign.

He made his Premiership debut for Arsenal on 30 December 2006, coming on as a substitute in a 1–0 defeat against Sheffield United at Bramall Lane.

2007–08 season

His first goal for Arsenal came in the Carling Cup third round fixture against Newcastle United on 25 September 2007, sealing a 2–0 win. The good performance and goal seemed to have secured him a long-term place at Arsenal after it was announced that he had secured a new contract with the club on 18 October 2007. Denílson scored another long-range shot in a Carling Cup match against Sheffield United on 31 October 2007, netting the final goal in Arsenal's 3–0 win. Denílson's first league start came on 24 November 2007 in a match against Wigan Athletic and the young Brazilian once again impressed, with Arsenal eventually winning the match 2–0 thanks to late goals from William Gallas and Tomáš Rosický. He received his first red card at Ewood Park against Blackburn Rovers in the Carling Cup quarter-finals, where he was sent off moments before extra time.

2008–09 season

Denílson was in the starting line-up for all of Arsenal's five competitive matches in August 2008, scoring his first Premier League goal on 30 August 2008 in their 3–0 win at home to Newcastle United. He continued to play as a regular for Arsenal throughout the following month and scored his second Premier League goal in their 3–1 away win at Bolton Wanderers on 20 September 2008.

International career

In November 2006, Denílson was called up to the Brazilian national side for a friendly match against Switzerland to replace his Arsenal team mate Gilberto who pulled out for personal reasons. However, he did not make his debut, as he was an unused substitute in the match.

Arsenal career statistics

(correct as of 5 October 2008)

Club	Season	League			Cup			Europe			Total
Club	Season	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists	Apps	Goals	Assists
Arsenal
	2006–07	10	0	1	8	0	0	1	0	0	19	0	1
	2007–08	14	0	2	6	2	1	4	0	0	24	2	3
	2008–09	7	2	3	0	0	0	4	0	1	11	2	4
Career totals											54	4	8