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Arsenal football club have confirmed signing former Chelsea’s winger, Willian on a three-year contract.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports the Brazil international becomes the first signing of the summer for the Gunners after joining on a free transfer.
The 32-year-old left the Blues after his contract expired with the Stamford Bridge outfit.
“Brazil international @WillianBorges88 has signed a three-year deal to join us ahead of the 2020/21 season,” Arsenal confirmed via its official Twitter handle on Friday.
🗞 Brazil international @WillianBorges88 has signed a three-year deal to join us ahead of the 2020/21 season
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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 14, 2020
🆕 New club. New colours. New beginnings.
👋 Welcome to The Arsenal, @WillianBorges88! 🔴 pic.twitter.com/B7Tl01BXLe
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— Arsenal (@Arsenal) August 14, 2020
Meanwhile, according to the club’s manager, Mikel Arteta, Willian will make a big impact for us – both on and off the pitch.
“I believe he’s a player that can really make a difference for us. We have been monitoring him for the past few months, we had a clear intention to strengthen in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions [and] he is a player that gives us a lot of versatility, he can play in three or four different positions.
“As well he brings a lot of quality and something that we need, which is winners. He has the experience to win almost everything in the football world but still the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs.
“It is many of his qualities [that appeal]. One is his ability to play in those tight spaces, his ability to play people through, to unlock, to drive with the ball and create overloads, he is a goal threat as well both in open play and with set pieces.
“Again, it is the character that I want, the kind of player that when things get difficult in the game that wants to take responsibility, wants the ball and wants to win the game for the team and I think it is going to be a really good lift for all the players as well in terms of the quality we are bringing to the squad,” Arteta told Arsenal Digital.
TNG reports Willian had confirmed last week that he would leave Chelsea after seven “wonderful” years at Stamford Bridge.
The Brazilian scored 63 goals in 339 appearances for Chelsea after his arrival from Russian club Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013.
Twice a Premier League winner with the Blues, he would add experience to an Arsenal side full of talented youngsters in Bukayo Saka, Joe Willock, Gabriel Martinelli and Reiss Nelson.
Meanwhile, the Gunners are also working toward tying down striker Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang to a new three-year contract as Arsenal who finished eighth in the Premier League last season, look to bridge the gap to the top four.
The moves came amid a backlash against the north London club who announced plans to lay off 55 staff a week after their FA Cup success over Chelsea at Wembley that guaranteed them a spot in next season’s Europa League.