Willian Will Offer Arsenal More Than Ozil

Arsenal have announced that they have signed Brazilian internationalist Willian (Source Arsenal.com) on a three year contract, after he let his contract run down at London rivals Chelsea.

Much has been made of the length on the forward’s new deal, three years for a thirty-two year old is pretty long. People have also questioned the fact that The Gunners are reportedly paying the veteran £220k a week for those three years (Via Teamtalk).

The only player at the Emirates that will earn more than Willian is German World Cup winner Mesut Ozil. The German hasn’t really featured much under current boss Mikel Arteta and even his former gaffer Unai Emery would leave out Ozil for the bigger games.

Many a Gooner believe that Mesut simply doesn’t merit his huge wage packet and they might be worried that the same might be the said of Willian.

Now while I would have said a two year deal would have been sufficient and that over £200k a week is pretty excessive, I do believe the Brazilian will be a better asset to Arteta than Ozil has been.

In his prime, Mesut Ozil was a superb player and a world class assist maker. But he hasn’t been of that standard for the last two or three years at Arsenal. He doesn’t work to help the team defensively and he doesn’t provide enough going forward in the matches that really matter.

When you see the German now, you don’t see a player who is out there to prove himself or willing to give everything for his team or teammates.

I don’t think the same will be said of Willian.

The former Chelsea man played in thirty-seven Premier League games last season. He ended the campaign with nine league goals and seven assists to his name.

The attacker doesn’t go missing in the bigger games; last term he scored a brace against Spurs, grabbed a goal in his side’s win over Manchester City, scored against Liverpool in the FA Cup and created an assist against his new employers Arsenal.

Willian will add experience and versatility to the Arsenal attack. I also think he will lead by example and show a desire to prove himself, just as he did at Stamford Bridge.

Arteta has highlighted such traits in his new signing:

“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.”

Mikel Arteta via Arsenal.com

Willian is always a performer who does great work but is often overlooked. People sometimes get caught up in watching stars like Eden Hazard and Neymar. It sometimes gets forgotten that Willian’s hard work, his calm nature (he doesn’t throw his toys out of his pram) and his craft go unnoticed. Yet without his consistency, I would argue that his team’s would have suffered greatly!

If I was an Arsenal fan I wouldn’t be worried about Willian signing on and becoming the next Mesut Ozil. I honestly believe he will offer the club more under Mikel Arteta and help get more from the great youngsters that are currently exciting the Gunners faithful!

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