Willian who joined Arsenal from Chelsea last season didn't have the best of times with the Gunners as he managed to score only one goal in 37 appearances.
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Arsenal winger Willian is reportedly set to return to his home nation Brazil after receiving interest from his former club Corinthians. The former Chelsea stalwart joined the Gunners last season after a seven-year stint with the Blues. However the Brazilian didn’t have the best of times at Emirates as he managed to score just one goal in 37 appearances for Mikel Arteta’s side. Therefore, as per the reports, the Gunners are willing to let him leave before the end of next week’s transfer deadline.
Talks are ongoing between Arsenal, Corinthians and Willian over a potential free transfer this month. A deal has not been agreed, however, Willian’s wages, which are over GBP 150,00 a week, are well above anything the Brazilian club could afford.
Willian left Corinthians after nine years in 2007 to join Ukraine club Shakhtar Donetsk and then moved to Anzhi Makhachkala, Chelsea and Arsenal. The winger’s move to Arsenal from Chelsea was a free transfer.
The move was considered as no risk signing due to his experience in the Premier League but he never really settled at Arsenal and failed to make an impact. Despite registering two assists in his Arsenal debut against Fulham the Brazil international soon faded as the Gunners finished eighth and missed out on European football for the first time in 25 years.
The 33-year-old is one of the highest earners at Arsenal and therefore they are keen to get his GBP 190,000-a-week wages off the wage bill after not finding a place in Arteta’s 20-man squad in either of Arsenal’s opening two Premier League games this season, both of which have been defeats.
Meanwhile, the 33-year-old also angered the Arsenal fans by appearing to like a post celebrating Chelsea’s 2-0 win at the Emirates stadium.
Talks will continue as all parties look to find a resolution that would see Willian return to the club he joined as a 10-year-old in 1998, before next Tuesday’s transfer deadline.
He went on to make 17 appearances for the Corinthians scoring twice and providing two assists before moving to Ukraine at the age of 19.
Willian has won five trophies with Chelsea and was named the club’s player of the year on two occasions.
He made his Brazil senior national team debut in 2011 and went on to make 70 international appearances, scoring 9 goals.
Arsenal have spent close to GBP 130 million on incoming transfers this summer and therefore they are now looking at unloading some players in order to trim the bloated squad. Willian’s opportunities at Arsenal are going to be limited this season, with Emile Smith Rowe, Nicolas Pepe, Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and new signing Martin Odegaard all ahead of him in the pecking order.
