Why should fans feel optimistic about the club’s chances of success this season? How will it feel to come up against Chelsea over Christmas? Have you thought about it?
Yoga with Adriene. Borgen on Netflix. A varied list of plausible excuses why we can’t attend Zoom quizzes. Fourfourtwo has stretched the limits of what can be achieved in an hour over the last year – but not everyone has been quite so ineffective. In September, Willian didn’t even need a full hour to endear himself to millions of new fans. Within 57 minutes of Arsenal’s opening- day battering of Fulham at Craven Cottage, the fuzzy- haired forward had helped to create all three of the Gunners’ goals in a 3- 0 win, and come within a post’s width of adding another himself from a free- kick.
It shouldn’t have come as a huge surprise: despite departing Chelsea on a free transfer last summer, the 32- year- old did so on the back of Premier League- best numbers at Stamford Bridge in 2019- 20 – nine goals and seven assists making him the Blues’ primary creative presence. He was also an unlikely record- setter: in a pandemic- affected season, the Brazilian became the first player to score a Premier League goal in every month of the calendar year. “I don’t see anyone taking that record from me,” he chuckles now, reflecting on the curiosity.
As Willian explains to FFT a few months on, however, extending his seven- year stint in west London was always a remote possibility given the doomed contractual wrangling that was – or more specifically, wasn’t – going on behind the scenes.
Yet he isn’t one for rueing what might have been. The affable forward looks back on his time at Chelsea with blue- tinted glasses, but now it’s the city’s north where his loyalties lie – and the early signs are encouraging. After being tempted by boss Mikel Arteta, general manager Edu and long- time pal David Luiz to join Arsenal, the Brazilian hasn’t regretted his hop across the capital since.
Realistically, a move of such proximity was always going to be relatively straightforward for a player who thrived after leaving Brazil aged 19 for the alien climes of Ukraine. He starred at Shakhtar Donetsk – securing six league titles and the 2009 UEFA Cup – before an odd six- month stint at Anzhi Makhachkala preceded his switch to long- time admirers Chelsea in 2013, which began a successful affiliation with English football. Soon he will reach another milestone, when he overtakes Liverpool legend Lucas Leiva as the Brazilian with the most appearances in Premier League history ( 247).
Over a cheery hour with FFT ( our best since giving up on downward dog poses, we would probably admit), Willian discusses it all while offering hopeful Gunners cause for optimism in the months ahead. Note to selves, though: don’t bother inviting yourself for dinner at his place any time soon…
How did your move from Stamford Bridge to the Emirates Stadium come about this summer? Was it hard to leave Chelsea?
Well, I was always clear to Chelsea in saying that I was happy at the club, but my contract was coming to an end and I asked them for a three- year extension. However, they were also clear in saying they could only offer two years. But there wasn’t even a negotiation between us, you know? That was it, actually: Chelsea made it public they could only offer a two- year contract, but they never came to negotiate. It was like saying, ‘ Take it or leave it’. They didn’t say that, but it felt like it. We didn’t sit down to talk about projects, or why they wanted just two years and I wanted three. They didn’t say, for instance, ‘ Let’s sign a two- year deal with a clause for a potential third depending on how many matches you play’. They simply didn’t speak to me. In the meantime, Arsenal came in and offered me
“I WAS HAPPY AT CHELSEA, BUT THEIR CONTRACT OFFER FELT LIKE ‘ TAKE IT OR LEAVE IT’. ARSENAL SHOWED HUGE INTEREST IN ME”
what I was looking for – they were the only club that really made any effort to sign me.
How true were those Barcelona rumours that never went away?
There are always rumours, but I didn’t know about any other official offer. Indeed, there was a lot of talk about Barcelona for the past few seasons, but I wouldn’t have gone there just because they’re Barça. I wouldn’t go to any club without hearing about their targets and what they wanted from me. It wouldn’t be nice to be there or anywhere else if you weren’t going to be a big part of the project and didn’t play much. Arsenal were the only club to show me a project that would fit with my ambitions, and they’re one of the biggest clubs in the world.
Your agent, Kia Joorabchian, said Arsenal’s presentation to you was “incredible”. What was so impressive about it?
From my first chat with Mikel Arteta and Edu, they always showed huge interest in having me on board. That was really important, as it showed their respect for me as a professional, but also showed their conviction in what they are trying to achieve at the club. Arsenal told me how I’d fit in there and how they saw me helping them to reach their goals. I could see that Arsenal were on the right track, and I’m delighted to be here.
How does Arsenal life compare to Chelsea?
I’m very happy with my first few months at Arsenal. Everyone made me feel comfortable from day one. I didn’t need time to adapt to the city and the league, so it was a different move – definitely a lot easier, as I just had to adapt to a new club and its philosophy. The only big difference in my personal life is that I moved house, and I’m now living in north London. When it comes to the football, there are many new things at Arsenal after seven years at Chelsea: the playing style, strategy against rivals, training drills, group meetings. I’m trying to adjust as fast as I can, and I’ve been pleased so far.
How influential was ex- Chelsea team- mate David Luiz in convincing you to join?
He was phoning me every now and again to check how the negotiations were going, and he obviously gave me some good references about Arsenal, but that’s it. He’s a big friend of mine – we’ve known each other since we were eight years old! It’s always great when you’re alongside friends and I’m happy to be his team- mate once again. He’s a top player and a top guy, too.
You owned a restaurant with him, but can either of you cook? If we came round your house, what would you serve?
I don’t cook at all! I’m so bad in the kitchen. Are you still coming? [ Laughs] We’d work out a way for you to not leave hungry, but don’t expect anything sophisticated. I’m not sure if David cooks well. We were indeed partners in a restaurant [ Babbo in Mayfair], but I left just because that’s not my speciality. David still has his share with my agent. It’s a nice restaurant, by the way – I always eat there.
What’s Arteta like as a coach?
He’ll be a top manager, I’ve no doubt about it. The potential is there, as is the ambition. In a few years he’ll be considered one of the best managers in the Premier League – and the world. Obviously you must win trophies to be considered one of the best, and it will happen for him sooner rather than later. I’m impressed with the way he talks and explains his tactical thoughts – he’s quick to read the game and make adjustments when needed. It’s been fantastic to train under him so far and I’m learning a lot.
Granit Xhaka said you “know how to win titles”. So, what does it take? How close are Arsenal to getting there?
From my perspective, Arsenal are on the right track, but we need to go step by step. There’s no point saying now that we’re going to win the Premier League and Europa League – we just have to look at our next opponent and try to beat them. Simple as that. Arsenal are a huge club and will always need to fight for titles – that’s what we want, of course; we’ll fight for every point in every competition and I’m confident we’ll be successful in the near future. To win leagues you can’t afford to lose many points at home, and it’s not enough to play well only in the big games. A champion side will always beat the small rivals – those teams who aren’t fighting for the title. When you face another challenger, sometimes you win, sometimes you lose. It’s normal. But it’s crucial to not drop points when you play the mid- table and bottom teams. Off the pitch, the club must have a good project, and know where they want to be and how to get there. That’s the case at Arsenal.
You now have fellow countryman Gabriel Magalhaes with you. What do you make of him as a guy and a player?
I was surprised by his instant adaptation into the team. I mean, it’s not easy to move from a different country and adapt to the Premier League so quickly. Gabriel has been showing his strength of character. He’s a calm guy and we’re all seeing his qualities on the pitch. He’s
very good at marking, but is also comfortable on the ball. He’s a threat from set- pieces, too, so was a clever signing.
Because there’s a purpose in what the club is doing. There are competent people in every area, and we’re working together to achieve the same goal: winning trophies. I’m not sure if it’ll happen this season or in the next ones, but Arsenal are doing a great job to get there. We want to play Champions League football next year and fight for titles, as that’s what the club is used to. I’m optimistic and believe every Arsenal fan should be.
How have you found playing games behind closed doors? Does it make life tougher or easier for you and the team?
First and foremost, it makes for a completely different experience. You can ask every player and no one would say it’s a small change. But we all know why it’s happening, so health and safety has to be the number one priority. As professional players, we just have to keep the same level of concentration and intensity as before. But, yes, there are a lot of differences with it. When you play away, for instance, you don’t get the same pressure from the stands.
Some away sides will feel more at home, and we’ve seen that happening already. It’s bad news for the small and medium- sized teams who usually capitalise on home advantage in games due to the energy coming from the supporters. Perhaps they rely more on these external factors? It may be easier for the big clubs, who have plenty of options and quality within their squads.
Tell us something we don’t know about you. Any secret hobbies?
Don’t you know everything by now? [ Laughs]
I’m no different from what you see out on the pitch. Some players are transformed during matches, but that’s not the case with me. My personality is just like you see every weekend. But OK, maybe people don’t know that I like playing and watching other sports, especially tennis and basketball. Also, learning to play golf is on my wish list. When I go on holiday, I almost don’t play any football at all...
What was it like having former team- mate Frank Lampard as your manager at Chelsea last season?
The best word to describe my feelings about Frank is gratitude. During the final year of my contract at Chelsea, he said he wanted to see me with a smile on my face. He said I would play regardless of the contract situation and would still be a key player in his team. It was kind of him, because some managers decide to not use a player who might be moving on soon. We had an honest conversation and he showed his class once again. I was delighted to work with Frank, because he’s yet another young, talented boss. [ FFT: How do Lampard and Arteta differ?] Their football philosophies are very different. Perhaps the only similarity is that they’re young managers with a bright future ahead of them. The way they look at the game isn’t similar. Mikel is more obsessed about the tactical aspects of football. He has a great understanding of the tactical side and dedicates a lot of time to it during his training sessions. Frank obviously works on his tactics as well, but in a different way.
“THERE’S A PURPOSE IN WHAT ARSENAL ARE DOING NOW – WE’RE ON THE RIGHT TRACK”
I certainly have. Well, it’s part of our lives as professional players. The important thing for me is the respect I have for Chelsea. I was so happy there – I spent seven years at the club and we won a lot of trophies together. I left many friends there, so they will always have my respect. But now I’m with Arsenal, where I’m happy and grateful for the opportunity. Chelsea are a rival and I’ll do my best to beat them every time we meet.
You’re nearing another record: becoming the Brazilian with the most appearances in Premier League history. How proud are you of that feat?
Very proud – I’d always dreamed of playing in England, so it’s an honour to have had that opportunity for such a long time. It’s not easy to play in the Premier League, and everyone knows how challenging it is. A lot of players come and stay for one or two seasons, then leave without really adapting to the division.
Luckily, that wasn’t the case for me. I believe my displays have improved each year, which is what you want as a professional footballer. Also, I don’t miss many games due to injury, so that helps with this record. It’s a privilege.
Looking back a bit further now, how tough was it to leave your homeland for Shakhtar Donetsk in 2007?
Just making the decision to sign for Shakhtar was already difficult. My family and I thought we would leave Corinthians and go to either Spain, Italy or England – countries where the leagues are more famous. So Shakhtar came as a big surprise in that sense, but again, we decided to go there because of their project. Shakhtar showed me an interesting plan and I was convinced it would prove an important step forward in my career. When I got there, though, the beginning was pretty tough. It’s a completely different culture in comparison to Brazil, and the cold weather was definitely one of the hardest parts to overcome. It was a new thing to play in such low temperatures and in a lot of snow! Thankfully, the club had signed some other Brazilian players and that helped me to adapt quicker. After a stressful start, I settled down and was really happy in Ukraine. I won several trophies at Shakhtar and it was a nice experience that prepared me for my challenges in Russia and England.
Shakhtar became famous for their Brazilian contingent. What did you all do together in Donetsk, and did a division of nationalities ever cause problems in the dressing room?
It was key for us Brazilians to have a social life together off the pitch. It’s a way of keeping in touch with our culture and helping each other adapt to a new country. We often organised dinners and events involving all our families. Regarding the various nationalities within the squad, there was never a big issue – respect was always the first rule of the dressing room. The group was very friendly and we used our differences to make us stronger.
Shakhtar manager Mircea Lucescu played a big part in making the team gel. How did he do that, and why was he so good at it? How did he help all of the Brazilians settle? Lucescu liked Brazilian players very much and I believe he still does. [ Laughs] It was helpful that we could communicate in ‘ portunhol’ – Lucescu speaks a mixture of Portuguese and Spanish, so it made life easier for us. I didn’t speak English or Russian – I’d come straight over from Brazil, so Portuguese was the only language I could understand.
How good was the Shakhtar team that won the UEFA Cup in 2008- 09?
Very. We had a team capable of facing any rival, made of players who could feature at any big European club. But the quality of the players wasn’t everything – we were a solid team with a good collective understanding, and that was the strength of that Shakhtar side. In attack we were especially dangerous, and could hurt teams with their first mistake. That European title was a huge achievement for us as individuals, and for the club overall.
You impressed in two Champions League matches against Chelsea in 2012, scoring twice at Stamford Bridge. How important do you believe they were to your transfer?
Well, I think it played a part, although I don’t feel it was crucial. Chelsea had already made an offer for me in the January [ 2012] transfer window, but Shakhtar didn’t accept it – they weren’t exactly the easiest club to negotiate with! [ Laughs] But then we played Chelsea in the Champions League and I put in a couple of good performances, scoring two goals in London [ in a 3- 2 defeat]. It probably helped to convince them that I was the right player for them. I had to wait a bit longer to finally sign, however, as I joined Anzhi Makhachkala before moving to the Premier League.
Why did you join Anzhi? What happened in that crazy six- month spell when you made just 17 appearances?
I’d been trying to get out of Shakhtar for two years – I thought it was time to experience another league and challenge. But like I said, they weren’t easy to negotiate with, as they didn’t want to lose their best players. I’d had offers from Chelsea and Benfica, but Shakhtar turned them down. At that point, the group phase of the Champions League was finished and I’d played well to help Shakhtar qualify for the last 16. We and Juventus progressed, leaving Chelsea to enter the Europa League. Then in January, Anzhi appeared and were the only club to offer the money that would make Shakhtar let me leave. The other clubs were trying to negotiate the fee, but Anzhi were happy to pay the release clause. I was so keen to leave, you know? I wanted a new challenge in my career. Again, it wasn’t the destination I dreamed of – I wanted to join an English or Spanish team – but Anzhi were the only option at that moment, so I decided to go. In the end, things worked out because I only stayed in Russia for a few months and then headed to Chelsea.
What was it like to be part of that project? How did you hear it was suddenly all over?
It was nice there – I take every experience as an opportunity to grow and become a better person and player. Anzhi’s project was quite interesting: Roberto Carlos was there as the assistant manager, along with Samuel Eto’o and some other Brazilians – so it was another exciting period of my career. Eventually, the president of the club got sick and decided he didn’t want to invest in football any more. He chose to abandon his plans and the players were up for sale. That’s when English football at last came into my life.