Willian Arsenal confirm signing of ex-Chelsea winger Willian
Willian will wear the number 12 shirt at Arsenal after completing a transfer from Chelsea.
The Brazilian has put pen to paper on a three-year deal with the Gunners, believed to be worth around £100,000-a-week.
Mikel Arteta revealed his delight at getting the transfer for the 32-year-old over the line.
Arsenal have confirmed the signing of Willian on a three-year contract.
The Brazilian winger left Chelsea earlier this week after his deal with the Stamford Bridge outfit expired.
"I believe he's a player that can really make a difference for us," said the Arsenal boss.
"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 has the experience of everything in the football world but to still have the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs.
"I have been really impressed with all the talks I have had with him and how much he wanted to come."
Technical director Edu added: "I know him very well, since a long time ago because we've been working together for the Brazilian national team and of course I was following him because he played for another club.
"He has a lot of fantastic attributes as a person, as a football player of course, his character.
"I'm 100 per cent sure that everybody in the dressing room, the fans, myself and Mikel will enjoy having Willian in our side."
"I think that with Arteta, Arsenal have a great opportunity to fight again for titles in the Premier League and in Europe so I'm very happy because of that," said Willian.
"When I talked to Mikel, the conversation was good, he gave me confidence to come to Arsenal. He said a lot of good things to me and that's why I have come to Arsenal."
Although Arsenal will not have to pay a transfer fee, the move for Willian, who is reportedly set to earn £200,000 ($261,000) a week, has been criticised just a week after the club announced they are planning to cut 55 jobs due to damaging economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic.
Willian is also the latest client of super-agent Kia Joorabchian, whose influence over the Arsenal board has been a source of concern for supporters, to arrive at the Emirates.
However, the 70-time capped Brazilian international was one of Chelsea's standout performers after football's return from the coronavirus shutdown to help Frank Lampard's men secure a place in the Premier League's top four.
"I know him very well, since a long time ago because we've been working together for the Brazilian national team and of course I was following him because he played for another club," said Arsenal's technical director Edu.
