afc If comments where performances Denilson would be a great player

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DENILSON has a dream. It's May 28, 2011, and he's doing his famous Samba dance by the Wembley corner flag.All around him ecstatic Arsenal supporters are celebrating wildly as the Gunners are crowned European champions.And what makes the vision even better is that at the other end of the stadium there is just utter silence and total dismay from the opposition fans.Yes, you guessed it, from crest-fallen Tottenham fans.The Brazilian's face breaks into a huge grin as he pictures the scene.Then he says: "Yes that would be special, to play Tottenham in the Champions League final... and beat them!"Because I don't like Tottenham. At Arsenal, NO ONE likes Tottenham."I knew that after only four weeks of coming here, even though I was a teenager from another country, from another continent."It was one of the first things they taught me here - the other players, the coaches, the manager and especially the fans."And now I have been here for four years, I have experienced it for myself."Now I understand it. We don't like them and they don't like us."When we play them it is crazy - on and off the ball. It's a big, big rivalry and I love it."It's very intense - to me it's just like Brazil and Argentina."If you are Brazil, you would rather beat Argentina than win the World Cup."If you are Arsenal you would rather beat Tottenham than anyone else, even Manchester United or Chelsea. So to defeat them in the Champions League final would be the ultimate victory."For all the North London rivalry, though, Denilson admits Spurs have surprised and even impressed him and his Arsenal team-mates by breaking into the Premier League's top four.But he insists it is still unthinkable that Spurs will ever eclipse the men from the Emirates.Denilson, 22, added: "It's true they shocked me last season, they did much better than I thought."So, yes, we have to take them very seriously now. In football, you know anything can happen but I still cannot believe they will achieve more than us."That's not going to happen and I am very confident about that."That confidence is sky-high, despite Arsenal's return of just one piece of silverware in the last seven years.That was the FA Cup in 2005, the year before he moved to North London from Brazilian club Sao Paulo. The midfielder accepts that trophy famine has to end and there can be no more excuses from Arsene Wenger's exciting crop of youngsters - starting with tomorrow's big Premier League kick-off at Liverpool.He said: "Last season, there was a lot of talk about Arsenal having too many young players and that's why we didn't win anything."But to me it should never be an explanation to say you failed because you are young."You can't use age as an excuse. To me it is about belief, about confidence, about ability."Most of the players at this club are internationals, that means they are top players and top players should perform. Look at Mezut Ozil for Germany in the World Cup finals - he is just 21 but proved himself against the best in the world in the biggest tournament in the world."Now we need to step up to the challenge too and I am sure we will have a successful season."And Denilson is quick to explain the reasons behind his bold predictions.He added: "Firstly, it is great news that Cesc Fabregas is staying."He is our captain, our leader and if he had left it would have caused a big problem for Arsenal."We have also signed Marouane Chamakh. He has already shown in pre-season what he can do, he looks a real quality player who will score a lot of goals."I am also excited about Jack Wilshere and Kieran Gibbs. They have both just been picked by England which shows how well they have done already."But I think this season they will be even better - they will have more experience and they will use that to Arsenal's advantage."Denilson promises to contribute even more to the cause, too.He admitted: "I need to be more consistent and score more goals - and I believe I will."In the past I was hampered by injuries which disrupted my form and my confidence."But I am fit again now and keen to make even more of an impact this term."If I play my best for Arsenal, I have a real chance of achieving my ultimate ambition and playing for Brazil at next year's Copa America and then in the World Cup in 2014 in my homeland. Now that would be special."The main reason for Denilson's confidence, though, is a man who will not kick a ball for the Gunners this season.The Brazilian added: "No one here can imagine Arsenal without Arsene Wenger."He's so important to us. More important to Arsenal than even the biggest player."He finds so many young players, then brings them here and helps them grow, helps them learn how to play great football, beautiful football."No other manager does what he does - they don't bring young players through like him. They go out and buy ready-made players, players who are at the top already."But the boss discovers new players from nowhere and turns them into stars."He believes in giving young players their opportunity and his record is amazing."Now his young players are more experienced than ever and that's why I believe this season we will get better and better and why I believe this season we will be winning one of the big titles."And that will spark one special Samba-style celebration in the Denilson household.Now where's that banjo, where's that tambourine?