Teenager shares why he quit Arsenal in January despite catching Mikel Arteta’s eye

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Aston Villa talent Lino Sousa has explained why he decided to leave Arsenal before the January transfer deadline.

Arsenal were quiet during the January transfer window as they decided not to go for a new signing to bolster Mikel Arteta’s squad.

There was a rather surprising exit ahead of the January deadline though as Lino Sousa left the club.

Aston Villa swooped in to sign the teenager before the deadline, luring the former West Bromwich Albion talent back to the Midlands.

Sousa was sent straight out on loan to Championship side Plymouth Argyle to gain first-team experience and Villa will feel that they have landed a real talent for the future.

Lino Sousa explains Arsenal departure

Sousa leaving Arsenal feels a little surprising given that he appeared to be highly regarded in the Gunners ranks.

Arsenal lured Sousa away from West Brom in 2022 and reports quickly suggested that he had made a big impression on Mikel Arteta.

Sousa was around the first-team picture in terms of training and occasional matchday squads but never managed a first-team debut.

The 19-year-old has now been let go with Arsenal happy for him to join a Premier League rival in Villa.

Arsenal fans were probably a little surprised and Sousa has now explained why he made the move from North London to Villa Park.

Sousa has told the Plymouth Herald that he really wanted to go out and play first-team football to aid his development.

Sousa felt that Villa gave him the best chance to do that, believing that they had the ‘right plan’ for him – possibly indicating that Arsenal didn’t.

The teenager added that this plan was key to his ‘conscious decision’ to leave Arsenal and immediately join Argyle on loan.

“I wanted to get out and play first team football, whether that was at Arsenal or elsewhere, and I felt as if Villa provided me the right platform and the right plan to go ahead and do that, so that’s why I made that conscious decision to leave,” said Sousa.

Only time will tell whether Sousa kicks on and becomes a star that Arsenal regret selling, but his departure certainly came as a shock and he clearly believes that he has made the right decision to move on.