Welcome back Willian! The turnaround of the Brazilian star

Willian

Welcome back Willian! The turnaround of the Brazilian star

By Peter White

In the midst of what has been a largely underwhelming season from an Arsenal perspective, it’s fair to say that the last week or so has been much more like it.  

Following a narrow 1-0 defeat at home to runaway Premier League leaders Manchester City, the Gunners sealed their place in the Europa League last 16 with victory over Benfica last Thursday, subsequently keeping their hopes of a continental adventure next year alive.  

Skipper Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang’s second goal three minutes from time in the second leg sealed a 3-2 win over the Portuguese giants in Athens, to set up a mouth-watering clash against old foes Olympiakos in which a quarter-final place will be at stake.  

Then, back on domestic duty at the weekend, a much-changed Arsenal outfit came from behind to topple third-placed Leicester City on their own turf, with David Luiz, Alexandre Lacazette and Nicolas Pepe goals earning a 3-1 win.  

A handful of players have come to the fore in the last couple of weeks to boost Arsenal’s prospects both at home and abroad, with Aubameyang, Kieran Tierney and Pepe rightly earning their share of the plaudits.  

Whisper it quietly, and even the previously dismissed Willian is deserving of some credit. It’s fair to say the Brazil international has flattered to deceive since his free transfer switch from London rivals Chelsea.  

But the 32-year-old’s impressive showings against Benfica and Chelsea have caused some to suggest he has finally found his feet at the Emirates after nearly seven months out in the wilderness.  

With Arsenal only six points behind sixth-placed Liverpool with 12 games of the Premier League season remaining, and with Europa League glory still within reach, could Willian help steer the north Londoners towards a memorable end to the campaign?  


What has been the problem?

Willian arrived at Arsenal having established himself as one of Chelsea’s main men during a seven-year spell at Stamford Bridge, in which he won five major honours including two Premier League titles and the Europa League.  

Though keen to see the former Anzhi Makhachkala man add to his 339 appearances in blue, Chelsea were unable to match the three-year deal offered to Willian by Arsenal, which secured his services ahead of the 2020/21 season.

Mikel Arteta

Willian featured in all three matches as the recently-crowned FA Cup winners raced out of the blocks in the delayed Premier League season, but things quickly went wrong for the Brazilian and Arteta’s team.  

A seven-game run without a win in the Premier League saw Arsenal plunge into the depths of the table and within real danger of slipping into the relegation places, and Willian was as culpable for criticism as anyone.  

While the team’s fortunes picked up in the wake of a 3-1 win over Chelsea on Boxing Day, Willian’s lacklustre displays continued, and even now he is still to register an Arsenal goal despite having made 27 appearances in all competitions.  

The decision to dish out a three-year deal worth a reported £220,000 per week has been largely criticised by members of the footballing community, with young Arsenal stars such as Bukayo Saka and Emile Smith Rowe showcasing their potential as better options.  

Arsenal legend Nigel Winterburn said: “There’s no doubt in my mind the ability he has, especially watching him play at Chelsea, but he hasn’t delivered that for Arsenal. Willian is simply not performing at the same level for Arsenal as he was for Chelsea.  

“I understand the logistics of what the club was trying to achieve when they brought him in, but given the way the club has developed this season with their younger players, I’m sure they’ll look back and think it was a transfer they didn’t need to make.”  


Signs of improvement

Whether it was attitude or lack of form that was holding Willian back in an Arsenal shirt, his latest performances suggest he is gradually working his way back towards the sort of form that earned him such a lucrative deal.  

Willian entered the fray against Benfica as a 63rd minute substitute and made an immediate impact, laying on Tierney’s goal that made it 2-2, before Aubameyang struck in the game’s dying stages.  

Speaking after that clash, Arteta said: “Since he joined for many different reasons he hasn't found his best performances, but hopefully this gives him the platform and belief that he is a really important player.  

“In games now you can see that he is starting to produce what we think he can do for the team, and everyone has to step up and create big moments in games.”  

That impressive showing earned Willian a place in the starting XI for the trip to Leicester, and he duly responded with two assists, meaning he has now registered more assists than any other Arsenal player this season with five.  

Arteta added: “He is revealing himself, not accepting the situation. I think he was the player that changed the game against Benfica, and again today.”  

An away clash to Burnley on Saturday kick-starts a crucial run of games for Arsenal in both the Premier League and Europa League, and all eyes will be on whether Willian can maintain his hot streak and guide the Gunners to glory.

Photo Credit: Getty Images 

Popular posts from this blog

What have we learned from Arsenal's pre-season so far?

Image
  Arsenal – what have we learned from pre-season? By Jack Lacey-Hatton It only feels five minutes since Euro 2020, but incredibly we are just one week away from the new Premier League season starting. Arsenal will travel to newly promoted Brentford for a London derby in front of a noisy crowd next Friday night, not the easiest of starts to the new campaign. But what sort of shape are Mikel Arteta’s side in, going into what could be a defining season for the manager? We took a close look at what we have learnt from the pre-season period and what kind of shape the squad are in.   The new signings are ready to go It has been a mixed transfer window so far. Some fans would have expected more both leaving and arriving at the Emirates stadium over the summer. But positives can be taken - Ben White has arrived from Brighton for £50million, and highly-rated full back Nuno Tavares has come in from Benfica. Albert Sambi Lokonga completes the 2021 summer singings so far. Cruc...
Read more

Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves

Image
Transfer Profile: Ruben Neves By Jonny Bray It is hard to believe that Ruben Neves is still only 25-years-old.   It feels as if the Portuguese international has been tipped for big things for nearly a decade now.  With the midfielder out of contract in 2023, it appears his time at Wolverhampton Wanderers could be coming to an end.  Understandably, with a player like Neves on offer for a reduced price, clubs around Europe are queueing up to secure the international's signature.  So, after all this time, should Arsenal move for Ruben Neves now, or is it time for the Gunners to turn their attention to a new target?  What would he bring?  Arsenal do not have enough defensive midfielders.  Martin Ødegaard, Emile Smith Rowe and Bukayo Saka give Mikel Arteta plenty of midfield options going forward, but the Gunners have been found lacking when out of possession this season. Thomas Partey has been in and out of the side due to injuries, a fact that has not hel...
Read more

Where will Arsenal finish this season?

Image
Where will Arsenal finish this season? By Alec McQuarrie Arsenal have made steady improvement over the last few seasons under Mikel Arteta. After finishing 8th in his debut season, the Spaniard oversaw a five-point improvement in his first full campaign.  And last year an eight-point leap followed, which was unfortunately not enough to pip Tottenham to fourth place.  Cruelly, the 69 points accumulated would have been enough to seal Champions League qualification in the previous two seasons.  Looking at the trajectory over the Arteta era, it would be fair to assume a continued improvement this coming season.  After all, with five signings already secured this summer and Alexandre Lacazette the sole first-team player to depart, surely fourth place should be a bare minimum expectation.  Oleksandr Zinchenko offers much-needed cover at left-back and competition for central midfield.  Gabriel Jesus is a proven goalscorer and brings a tireless work-ethic to fulfil...
Read more