Willian’s short spell at Arsenal didn’t go as planned. The winger signed a three-year deal at the Emirates Stadium following a hugely successful period with Chelsea, but his deal was cut short after just one year. Willian says most players in his situation would have seen out their contract at the Gunners, but has revealed that he didn’t ‘feel good’ at Arsenal.
Willian said: “I think I’m maybe the only player who has done something like this [cancelled contract early]. Any other player in my situation would have stayed until the end of the contract and kept picking up the money. But I’m not like this. Money is not the most important thing in the world. I have to feel good, to feel motivated to go to training. I wasn’t having that there so I decided to leave. On my last day there, I spoke with the manager Mikel Arteta. I thanked him a lot for what he had done for me, for bringing me to Arsenal. I just wished him all the best. He is a good manager and I have great respect for Arsenal. They are doing well, they have good players. They can achieve good things this season.”