Arsenal FC , Emery at the Emirates

[BangaloreaN]

Willian transfer disaster a warning for Arteta as Arsenal prepare to step up overhaul


There can be few transfers that have gone so spectacularly wrong as Willian’s move to Arsenal.
Billed as a no-risk free transfer when he arrived following his departure from Chelsea last summer, the experienced Brazilian was expected to play a key role in the Mikel Arteta revolution at Emirates Stadium.
There were reservations about the fact he had been handed a three-year deal, despite being 31, but most felt that he still had plenty to offer given he had arrived off the back of his best goalscoring season at Stamford Bridge.

In 37 appearances, he managed just one goal – a free-kick against Championship bound West Brom on what looks like being his final appearance in an Arsenal shirt.


“The expectations when we made the decision together to bring him to the football club have not been fulfilled,” Arteta admitted earlier this month.
“It’s true that the context has not been the best for him. It’s been the most difficult year in football history for any football player.
“Willian is a player that needs to play happy, feel joy and feel the supporters and then express himself with the quality that he has.
“None of that has happened. He found a difficult place for him and he’s not been comfortable with that and I think that’s why he’s struggled.”
But he will leave as a player who now epitomises everything the Gunners must avoid when it comes to their future transfer dealings.
This was a costly mistake and the lessons learned will be a valuable warning for Arteta and Arsenal’s technical director Edu going forward.
On the face of it, of course, he looked like a relatively smart signing.
Willian was still a key player for Chelsea when he left. He scored nine league goals in his final season in west London but also provided seven assists, equalling his highest previous tally, which was amassed in 2017-18.
Chelsea were also keen to keep him; it wasn’t like they had pushed him out of the door. They repeatedly offered him a two-year contract extension.
The issue was it was one year less than what he was asking for – and that’s where Arsenal stepped in.
It seemed like Arteta was getting a player who would come in and make an immediate impact, too, but the reality was the complete opposite.
It was a classic case of a player who didn’t really want to be at a club who just went through the motions without delivering anywhere near what he should have.
For Arsenal, it’s another example as to why you shouldn’t sign an ageing player from your rivals.


“It really was a very difficult start,” Willian admitted, while discussing his first season at Arsenal during an interview with ESPN .
“We ended up getting [on] a bad streak and I also got a bad streak. I think [it was] the worst time that I lived as a professional.”
Given how his first season had gone at Arsenal, it felt like a move away this summer was important for all parties.
However, negotiations over the structure of the proposed Corinthians deal and how much Arsenal might need to contribute to his wages have yet to be concluded.
There is still also a chance that Willian could move elsewhere, with the attacker open to staying in Europe should the right opportunity arise.
For Arsenal, the key now is to avoid repeating the mistake they made with Willian in the future.

[BangaloreaN]

Willian transfer disaster a warning for Arteta as Arsenal prepare to step up overhaul


There can be few transfers that have gone so spectacularly wrong as Willian’s move to Arsenal.
Billed as a no-risk free transfer when he arrived following his departure from Chelsea last summer, the experienced Brazilian was expected to play a key role in the Mikel Arteta revolution at Emirates Stadium.
There were reservations about the fact he had been handed a three-year deal, despite being 31, but most felt that he still had plenty to offer given he had arrived off the back of his best goalscoring season at Stamford Bridge.

In 37 appearances, he managed just one goal – a free-kick against Championship bound West Brom on what looks like being his final appearance in an Arsenal shirt.


“The expectations when we made the decision together to bring him to the football club have not been fulfilled,” Arteta admitted earlier this month.
“It’s true that the context has not been the best for him. It’s been the most difficult year in football history for any football player.
“Willian is a player that needs to play happy, feel joy and feel the supporters and then express himself with the quality that he has.
“None of that has happened. He found a difficult place for him and he’s not been comfortable with that and I think that’s why he’s struggled.”
But he will leave as a player who now epitomises everything the Gunners must avoid when it comes to their future transfer dealings.
This was a costly mistake and the lessons learned will be a valuable warning for Arteta and Arsenal’s technical director Edu going forward.
On the face of it, of course, he looked like a relatively smart signing.
Willian was still a key player for Chelsea when he left. He scored nine league goals in his final season in west London but also provided seven assists, equalling his highest previous tally, which was amassed in 2017-18.
Chelsea were also keen to keep him; it wasn’t like they had pushed him out of the door. They repeatedly offered him a two-year contract extension.
The issue was it was one year less than what he was asking for – and that’s where Arsenal stepped in.
It seemed like Arteta was getting a player who would come in and make an immediate impact, too, but the reality was the complete opposite.
It was a classic case of a player who didn’t really want to be at a club who just went through the motions without delivering anywhere near what he should have.
For Arsenal, it’s another example as to why you shouldn’t sign an ageing player from your rivals.


“It really was a very difficult start,” Willian admitted, while discussing his first season at Arsenal during an interview with ESPN .
“We ended up getting [on] a bad streak and I also got a bad streak. I think [it was] the worst time that I lived as a professional.”
Given how his first season had gone at Arsenal, it felt like a move away this summer was important for all parties.
However, negotiations over the structure of the proposed Corinthians deal and how much Arsenal might need to contribute to his wages have yet to be concluded.
There is still also a chance that Willian could move elsewhere, with the attacker open to staying in Europe should the right opportunity arise.
For Arsenal, the key now is to avoid repeating the mistake they made with Willian in the future.