Perry Groves has described Willian’s move from Chelsea to Arsenal as an ‘absolute no-brainer’, telling talkSPORT (5 August, 11am) that the Brazil international would be an upgrade on £72 million Nicolas Pepe.
With the 31-year-old winger set to become a free-agent in a matter of days, Willian appears to have made two clear demands as he weighs up his next club.
As he’s made clear on numerous occasions, the long-serving Stamford Bridge favourite would prefer to keep his young family in their London home, all-but ruling out a move to Barcelona or Inter Miami.
He also wants a three-year contract – something which Chelsea seem unwilling to provide.
Arsenal, on the other hand, are more than happy to meet Willian’s requirements. The Sun (5 August, page 54) report that the former Shakhtar Donetsk flyer will be offered a £130,000-a-week contract at the Emirates until the summer of 2023.
While some have suggested that Willian would be an expensive bench-warmer in north London, Arsenal legend Groves is convinced that a player at the peak of his powers would actually represent an improvement on the Gunners’ £72 million record signing.
“Yeah (he’s better than Pepe). He’s not on Willian’s level, delivering consistency,” said Groves, a First Division champion in 1989 and 1991.
“(Signing Willian is an) absolute no-brainer. The players these days, because they look after themselves, they’ll be playing till their 33, 34.
“His injury record…he averages 33, 34 games a season so he’s not injury prone. He’s consistent he’s got a winning mentality. He’ll but into the way Arteta wants to play.
“Because he knows the Premier League, the risk is very, very low. Is he better than what Arsenal have at the money? You’d say yes.”
Willian is a different kind of right-winger to former Lille star Pepe, with the latter preferring to cut inside onto his left foot while the latter races down the touchline like an old-school throwback.
So, with Arsenal lacking a bit of cutting edge at times during the Arteta era, Willian’s arrival would provide both quality and quantity at the Emirates.
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