'It was down to me to get it done' - How Arsenal landed top Brazilian midfielder

Arthur was part of a swap deal that saw Miralem Pjanic go to Barcelona in 2020, which included a £60million fee paid to Barca, showing just how highly Juve rated him.

"In the last decade Brazilian midfielders have really struggled when they've come to Europe," Brazil-based journalist Tim Vickery told talkSPORT.

"They've struggled with the extra speed in which you have to do things.

"Arthur was the biggest of all the big hopes, we thought he was made to measure for Barcelona [when he joined from Gremio in 2018] and when he went there it didn't go badly, there was a very impressive performance against Tottenham at Wembley.

"Since then it's been downhill and he's now at Juventus, often on the bench."

Ill discipline has apparently been part of his struggle, but Vickery thinks he is the kind of player Arteta would like and many would love to see him fulfil his potential.

"I love his ability to receive the ball and keep possession," he added.

One Brazilian lauded for his ability in an Arsenal shirt was Gilberto Silva, who arrived in north London from Atletico Mineiro in 2002.

This was the man who, according to Brazilian magazine Veja, 'carried the piano for Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Rivaldo to play their tunes on.'

He had been part of Brazil's World Cup winning squad and manager Arsene Wenger wanted him, which meant it was vice chairman David Dein's job to go and make the deal happen.

"Arsene would say: 'I think this player will fit in nicely and this is where I envisage him playing,'" Dein explained to Amy Lawrence in her book, Invincible.

"Then it was down to me to go and do the deal and bring the player back." After some tough negotiating, which involved Dein pretty much sleeping on Atletico Mineiro's doorstep to get their directors to even entertain the idea of selling, he got his man. A bargain £4.5million considering the impact Silva had.

Wenger was exited. "He is a naturally gifted, world class player who has proved, by his performances in Japan during the summer, that he is a winner," he said when unveiling his new player.

"He will give us extra quality and his competitiveness in midfield will provide us with a good balance and added strength," he added.

And he was right. Arsenal were now even stronger and Silva quickly became a favourite among the Arsenal faithful who named him the 'Invisible Wall' for his performances in front of the back four where he provided the protection.

The adjustment from Belo Horizonte to England took some time, but his impact on the pitch was immediate. Coming off the bench at half-time, he scored the only goal of the game as the Gunners beat Liverpool 1-0 in the 2002 Charity Shield then ended the season with an FA Cup winner's medal.

Better still, the following year he formed a formidable partnership with Patrick Vieira en route to going the entire season unbeaten, better known as the 'Invincibles' season to Gooners.

"Remarkable," he said in reference to not only remaining unbeaten, but extending it to 49 games. "It's something I'll remember for the rest of my life."

Another FA Cup victory followed in 2005 and then a year later, Silva scored the first ever competitive goal at the Emirates in the 1-1 draw with Aston Villa.

By 2008, though, it was time to move on. He wasn't playing much and had his eyes on a place in Brazil's 2010 World Cup squad. Greek side Panathinaikos was his next stop and he a seat on the plane to South Africa was his.

His style may not have been the sexiest, but you won't find an Arsenal fan who believes Gilberto Silva wasn't essential to the side.

Arthur Melo could be the missing link in the middle of the park for manager Mikel Arteta at Arsenal.