Willian can help Arteta on and off the pitch

This transfer window marks the second time in as many seasons that Arsenal have snapped up a Brazilian international from Chelsea. Following in David Luiz’s footsteps in swapping Stamford Bridge for the Emirates Stadium is Willian. The former Shakhtar Donetsk winger has signed for Arsenal on a three-year deal, following the expiry of his contract at Chelsea. There has been a lot of noise and criticism around this deal, at both clubs, but Willian can prove to be a valuable asset for head coach Mikel Arteta both on and off the pitch.

Despite having just turned 32 years old, there is no evidence to show that Willian’s physical output is declining. The winger featured regularly for Chelsea last season, and even with his contract situation up in the air, was used consistently by Frank Lampard when the Premier League resumed in June. You can find here his goal contributions for the Blues last season, which show just how important he was for the club, and it is expected that he will be an experienced hand in the dressing-room for Arteta to lean on. Along with Luiz, Willian is a serial winner, and that mentality will need to be transmitted to many in the Arsenal dressing room who aren’t used to competing for trophies on a regular basis, despite having just beaten Chelsea in the FA Cup final.

At the same time, Willian will also provide a very good option for Arteta on the flanks. Nicolas Pepe had a very average debut season in England, with his price tag seemingly weighing him down, while Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang was often used on the left to accommodate Alexandre Lacazette. With doubts swirling around whether either of those players will be at the Emirates for next season, it was important for the club to bring in some depth, especially with Gabriel Martinelli also injured and facing a long spell on the sidelines. Given the impact of the ongoing pandemic on football finances in general, and Arsenal’s revenue in particular, a free transfer for a player of Willian’s calibre is not to be sniffed at.

Arsenal, who have been out of the Champions League for three seasons now, have seen their revenue fall as a result of not earning the lucrative TV money from that competition. They are also more dependent on matchday and hospitality revenue than the other big clubs in the Premier League, meaning that the longer matches are held without fans in attendance, the more it will hurt Arsenal. There is going to be a need for the club to shed some of their unwanted players, to make room on the wage bill for new arrivals, and so getting Willian in without paying a transfer fee is a smart piece of business, even if he is on a lucrative three-year deal. The winger is close to Luiz, and so it is expected that he will slot in seamlessly into the dressing-room, while not needing to move from his current home in London.

All of the signs are that Willian will be a very shrewd signing for Mikel Arteta and his team, and it remains to be seen if he can have the same impact on the pitch as he will have off it.

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