Willian Chelsea
Willian playing for Chelsea

Brazilian winger Willian rejected a new contract at Chelsea in order to join London rivals Arsenal on a free transfer a couple of weeks ago.

And speaking in his first interview with the North London club, Willian explained that he joined Arsenal for two major reasons.

He told the club’s official website: “I decided [to join] because Arsenal is one of the biggest clubs in the world. They have a new project with Mikel Arteta. 

“I think this club deserves to shine again and I want to be a part of this project – to be a part of the Arsenal family is amazing. I’m very happy to do that.

“I come to try to win trophies, because this club deserves to win again, and I think you have to do the best as possible to win every game. I always train hard and go on the pitch giving 100 per cent to help this team to win games and to win titles as well.”

And now his agent Kia Joorabchian has explained that Edu and Mikel Arteta were the driving force in convincing Willian to snub a contract extension at Chelsea and move across London.

“With Willian, there’s no secret he wanted a three-year contract, but the Mikel Arteta project was just incredible,” the agent told talkSPORT host Jim White.

“He was very much wooed by Mikel and [technical director] Edu, and what Mikel presented to him and the way he wants to play football and the way he wants to continue and the success he wants to bring to Arsenal, made the difference.

“That’s what he said and that’s exactly what it was.”

Despite being in the final year of his contract, Willian was one of the star players for Chelsea during the 19/20 season which is why Lampard was so eager to hold onto him.

But clearly, the terms of the new deal did not excite the winger which is why he chose to end his seven-year association with the Blues in order to join Mikel Arteta’s new-look Arsenal side.

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