Arteta says Arsenal player hasn’t been very good since joining, earns £220k-a-week

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Mikel Arteta has conceded that Arsenal’s decision to sign Willian just hasn’t worked out.

The Brazil international joined Arsenal on a Bosman last summer after his Chelsea contract expired.

And despite the fact there was no transfer fee, it’s still a huge investment by the Gunners by virtue of the fact that they gave him a £220,000-a-week contract, over the course of three years.

Willian was omitted from Arteta’s squad for the club’s Premier League opener away to Brentford on Friday night.

And the Spaniard has admitted that the 32-year-old hasn’t proven himself a good signing as of yet.

He told ESPN Brazil: “Anybody would agree [it hasn’t worked out]. The expectation we had when we made the decision to bring him to the football club, what he wanted to do, has not been fulfilled. The context has not been the best for him. I think Willy is a player that needs to feel happy and feel joy and feel the supporters, and then express himself with the quality he has. None of that has happened.”

Where is Willian going?

Despite the fact that Arteta – who also failed to include him in the squad for pre-season friendlies earlier this month – has washed his hands with the player, it remains to be seen if he’ll actually go.

A move to the MLS broke down earlier in the summer due to Willian’s wage demands.

And unfortunately for Arsenal, there aren’t many – if any – clubs banging down their door to sign the Premier League winner.

Considering his salary, it would be ideal if the Emirates Stadium club could offload him for the sake of the wage bill but as of right now, it really isn’t looking very good.