Willian has described his 2020 move across London from Chelsea to Arsenal as a major mistake, saying the three-year deal that appeared to secure his family’s future instead left him unhappy and unable to reproduce his Stamford Bridge form.
Key takeaways
- Willian left Chelsea after the club would offer him no more than a two-year extension, while he wanted three.
- Mikel Arteta persuaded the Brazilian by presenting him as a central figure in Arsenal’s new project.
- The former Chelsea winger made 37 appearances and scored once in his only Arsenal campaign.
- He says he wanted to leave Arsenal within three months of arriving.
- Now without a club after leaving Grêmio, Willian intends to return to Europe.
A London decision that went wrong
At 32, Willian was weighing more than football when his Chelsea contract reached its final year. His family enjoyed living in London and he hoped to remain there for another three seasons. Chelsea, however, were prepared to offer only two years.
Arteta had recently taken charge at Arsenal and made a direct pitch. Willian recalled being told that Arsenal had a clear way of playing and that he would be one of its leading figures, with the side to be built around him. The prospect persuaded him to cross the capital and sign for the Gunners.
In hindsight, Willian believes he should have stayed at Chelsea. He said Arsenal looked like the right answer at the time, but the experience did not match either the promise or the scale of the contract he had accepted.
Frustration after three months
Willian said he arrived motivated, expecting to play with the freedom and expression he had shown during his Chelsea years. Yet after only three months, he told his agent that he wanted out.
He stressed that he did not place sole responsibility on any individual, but said there was a gap between what he had been told before joining and what he encountered once inside the club. Certain situations convinced him that the environment would not change, leaving him frustrated and convinced that the move had been an error.
That dissatisfaction affected his football. Willian said a player cannot perform properly without happiness, adding that money did not compensate for the feeling. Although it was the best contract of his career financially, he said it did not bring him contentment.
His Arsenal spell ended after one season, with one goal from 37 matches. He subsequently reached an agreement to leave the club and joined Corinthians. After not continuing at Grêmio, the Brazilian is currently a free agent and is looking for another opportunity in European football.
