The 19-year-old, who has captained his national team at every level
from under-15s, is expected to feature in a youthful Gunners side
at Sheffield United tomorrow night.
Denilson, who signed from Sao Paulo in a £3.4million deal in August
2006, has already chalked up close to 30 appearances for Arsenal
and smashed his first goal during the 2-0 win over Newcastle in the
previous round of the competition.
And having helped guide the Gunners into last season's final
against Chelsea at the Millennium Stadium, the young midfielder has
now targeted a regular place in the starting XI.
He said: "I would like to think my career is not just the Carling
Cup, I feel I have already proved myself in that competition. My
aim is to get in the first team for the Premiership, and the
Champions League. The competition [for places] is very good, but I
need to get it into my head that it should be me in the team.
"What is important to me is whether I am playing. And, without
question, I want to be playing in all the tournaments. I am sure I
am evolving a lot. But it is not for me to say whether I have
matured as a player or not. It is for other people to make that
decision."
