Baptista keen to extend Gunners stay

Julio Baptista is yet to play in an Arsenal shirt but the Brazil forward is ready to commit his future to the club after enjoying his first taste of the Emirates Stadium.

Baptista came off the bench to play the last 18 minutes of Brazil’s 3-0 win over Argentina yesterday, and got a huge reception from the home support.

Having joined Arsenal on a season-long loan from Real Madrid in exchange for Jose Antonio Reyes on Friday, Baptista is now hoping for a similar introduction to the Barclays Premiership.

“I was very happy to be so welcomed in my home ground,” Baptista said through an interpreter. “I hope to get as big a welcome in the league. I am very confident I can be a big addition for the team.”

In joining Arsenal, Baptista has moved to a club which beat Real in a superb European campaign last season, something he now hopes to help them repeat.

“It’s a traditional club which is very well known,” Baptista added. “They reached the Champions League final last season and I hope this year we can continue and reach the Champions League final again.”

In bringing Baptista to the club, Arsene Wenger has secured a player he has long coveted and was close to signing last summer.

“I am very humbled that Arsene Wenger is so interested in me. I would be very happy to stay here,” Baptista said.

Brazil coach Dunga, who will no doubt be happy if Baptista can play a more significant role for Arsenal than he did in Madrid, backed the versatile player to make a big impact.

“Technically, he brings the quality of a Brazilian player but he also brings his personality – he is very strong, very strong-willed – he is a winner,” Dunga said.

“Also, he can play in three different positions – he can defend, he can attack and he can score goals and this is very important.”

Arsenal’s other Brazilian, Gilberto Silva, has promised to help Baptista settle in London as he himself was helped by former team-mate Edu, but he does not expect to share midfield duties with the 24-year-old.

“I don’t know, but I think he will play more in attack,” Gilberto said.

“He’s a very, very good player. I think he will bring a lot of experience even though he is only a young player. He has experience with both his club and the national team.”

Although it was relatively brief, Baptista is likely to have enjoyed his first taste of English football more than West Ham duo Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano, both of whom struggled to make an impact as Argentina were undone by two goals from Elano and a late strike by Kaka.

While Mascherano was ineffective before being withdrawn at half-time, Tevez was frustrated by close markers who stuck with him all afternoon.

Dunga revealed he had asked his defence to pay special attention to both Tevez and Juan Roman Riquelme.

“The marking was very close. We knew we couldn’t give them any bad fouls so what we asked them to do was to close down the space,” he said.

However, the 22-year-old new Hammers duo got the backing of Argentina coach Alfio Basile, who believes they can prosper in England.

“They are great players and they will get to know the Premier League very well,” he said.

“It’s one of the best leagues in the world and players who play in the best leagues grow.”