Gabriel Sara has revealed why Arsenal loanee Marquinhos helped him kick on at Norwich City.

Sara was joined in Norfolk by his Brazilian compatriot, and former Sao Paulo team mate, following David Wagner’s New Year arrival.

The Gunners' winger signed in January but was unable to make a huge impression in a season which tailed off to a mid-table Championship finish.

But Sara produced an eye-catching showreel of goals and assists that saw him lift the Canaries’ player-of-the-year to finish his debut campaign on a personal high.

“After Marquinhos arrived, he helped me a lot. It was in the middle of the season, I was already a little more adapted,” said the 23-year-old. “I've known Marquinhos for years. When he said he was coming here, I was very happy. Now I wasn’t the only Brazilian, I had someone to talk to, someone to share things with.

"Norwich is a very small city. There are few Brazilians. We met some and made some friends, but it's very difficult. I came with my girlfriend, so it was me and her. You end up feeling more isolated. Because of the language, you can't talk to people, it ends up being a bit boring inside the club.

"I had the translator that the club hired, which is for me and for the Chilean (Marcelino Nunez), who also spoke Portuguese, so it was another friendship I made. Marcelino, who came from Universidad Catolica, speaks Spanish, it's not the same thing, but he helped. That ends up helping with adaptation.

"It's a small city, but it's a good city, it's very calm, but for people who were used to living in Sao Paulo, full of friends around, it was a little complicated.”

Sara, speaking to ESPN Brasil, retains huge affection for his boyhood club. The midfielder came through Tricolor’s junior ranks to make 113 senior appearances, and feature in both of South America’s major continental competitions, the Copa Libertadores and Copa Sudamericana.

The highly-rated Sara was the Canaries' first foray into that transfer market when he joined last summer for an initial £6m from Sao Paulo.

"I still have goals that I didn't complete in Sao Paulo. Dreams that I still want to complete,” he said. “Whenever Sao Paulo is doing well, I'm happy and when Sao Paulo is doing poorly, I'm cheering for it to improve. For Sao Paulo to reach the glory times again.

“I still talk to my friends inside. With Nestor and the guys and I watch all the games that are at 4pm and those at 6.30pm I can watch them too. I try to follow whenever I can. When the games are too late, unfortunately, I can't, but I'm more of a Sao Paulo fan, so whenever I can, I follow.

"I spent more time at Sao Paulo than at home, with my parents. So I know what fans feel like. Sao Paulo is special to me. Of course, today I wouldn't be here (in England) without Sao Paulo. I have enormous gratitude towards Sao Paulo.”