There’s a reason why lots of players even today choose London as the ideal destination to settle in when moving to the UK. Being the capital of the country, the city is right up there among the most liveable places in the entire world, and the facilities and luxuries of living in London are unlike any other as well. When Brazilian winger first arrived in London, he was on the verge of joining Tottenham Hotspur. Despite travelling with the hopes of an incoming bid from his preferred club Chelsea, he completed his medical at Spurs and was waiting simply for the paperwork to get completed.
At the eleventh hour, a bid from Chelsea did arrive, and although he ran the risk of various other repercussions, Willian was determined to travel across London and join Chelsea. Saying that the Blues secured quite the coup that evening would only be an understatement, as Willian has gone to become one of the most influential Premier League wingers of the last decade. Extremely intelligent and blindingly quick, the speedster has been the Blues’ saviour on various occasions, and the work-rate and dedication that he brings to the table simply cannot be underplayed.
What Is Arsenal’s Situation In The Wide Areas?
Up until about a few seasons ago, the wide areas weren’t really a problem position for the North London club. The likes of Alex Iwobi, Theo Walcott, Alexis Sanchez and Henrikh Mkhitaryan have all left the club in recent years, with the Gunners currently finding themselves in a fairly fragile situation. Nicolas Pepe remains Arteta’s only experienced choice on the flanks, with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson too inexperienced. Although Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang has been used on the left a few times as well, it must be conceded that the Gabonese international is a centre-forward by trade.
Here Is A Chelsea Fan’s Message To Arsenal About The Willian Signing:
A Chelsea Fan’s Message To Arsenal About The Willian Signing
What Makes Willian A Good Signing For Arsenal?
One of the biggest problems that have been facing this Arsenal side in recent years has been an inexplicable toothlessness in the attack. Despite boasting players like Aubameyang and Mesut Ozil, the Gunners have been unable to maintain any level of consistency, owing largely to the lack of dynamism and energy in attack. Willian can be the catalyst that drives this Arsenal team forward from next season on. The speedster has been around the Premier League for the longest time now and is hence well-aware if exactly how to go about things.
Moreover, the former Anzhi man’s ability to create and score goals at a decent pace will likely help bring the best out of some of the other Arsenal attackers as well. His tireless work-rate and sheer dedication towards the cause will undoubtedly benefit Arteta’s project at the Emirates stadium. At the same time, his ability to step up in important situations can be vital as well. Willian, being 32, could also end up being the ideal mentor for the Gunners’ record signing Nicolas Pepe, whose first season in London was far from a comfortable one.
How Could Arteta Use Willian In The Team?
Although the Brazilian is a right-winger by trade, he’s more than capable of playing anywhere across the front-line. There has been talk of the speedster potentially taking up the number ten role at the Emirates Stadium, in a position that would allow him the freedom required to get creative in attack. With that said though, it’s worth conceding that Willian’s defensive work-rate is one of his biggest selling points, and giving him a free-roaming attack role would completely eradicate his defensive responsibilities.
As good as that might sound on paper, tracking back and putting pressure on opposition attackers is part of his style, and taking that away could end up having dire results. The constant output of energy is arguably what keeps the speedster going during matches, as his worst outings in a Chelsea shirt all included a general lack of defensive enthusiasm. Despite this, the Brazilian offers excellent dribbling skills in the final third of the pitch, while his ability to strike the ball from a distance needn’t be questioned either.
The Verdict
As much as I wish Willian the absolute best during his time at Arsenal, the Chelsea fan inside me obviously hopes that this move doesn’t work out as well as Arteta has planned, mainly for the banter that’s sure to follow. Simply as a lover of this sport though, there’s no reason why the Gunners faithful shouldn’t be excited about this signing. The Brazilian has been a regular part of the last many Premier League seasons, and acquiring experience like that is no small matter for any club.
Willian proved over the course of the 2019/20 season that he’s still got what it takes to deliver at the highest level, as has been clarified on various occasions by Frank Lampard as well. Whether or not Arteta can bring the best out of Willian remains to be seen, but in terms of acquiring a player, the Gunners could’ve certainly done a lot worse than the former Chelsea man this summer.
