Willian has revealed that broken promises from Mikel Arteta led him to want to leave Arsenal just three months after his arrival. The former Chelsea winger, now 38, made the comments on The Obi One Podcast, detailing a frustrating 2020-21 season that ended with his departure after just 37 appearances.
Willian said the Arsenal manager laid out a grand vision for his role before he signed his three-year contract in August 2020. "Arteta said to me: 'We're going to play like this and I want you to be the main guy, I will build the team around you, I want to give you the key to the club'," Willian recalled. The Brazilian, then 32, was in the final year of his contract at Chelsea and was keen to stay in London with his family, which made Arsenal's offer appealing.
The reality of his time at the Emirates Stadium failed to match those initial assurances. Willian said the overall mentality and environment were different from what he experienced during seven successful years at Chelsea. He felt a lack of competitive drive, stating that nobody was pushing the younger players at the club. His frustration grew rapidly. "Three months later I said to my agent I want to leave, and that I made a big mistake leaving Chelsea," Willian said. He scored only once for the Gunners, who finished eighth in the Premier League that season, and he left by mutual consent in 2021 to join Corinthians.
Despite his disappointment, Willian holds no personal grudge against the Arsenal boss. He described Arteta as a great coach on the pitch but suggested he lacked the human side of management during that period. Willian acknowledged that the financial terms of his Arsenal deal were the best of his life, but he concluded that money cannot buy happiness. He reflected that he should have accepted Chelsea's offer of a two-year extension instead.
Arsenal's current situation under Arteta is vastly different, with the team now firmly established as title contenders. They sit second in the Premier League with 12 points from five games, just three points behind leaders Manchester City. The squad prepares for a key home fixture against fifth-placed Leeds United this weekend, a match detailed in our fixtures list. While Willian's chapter was brief and unhappy, the club has since rebuilt a culture of high standards and consistent performance.
More detail at Daily Mail Sport
