Luiz too ‘ambitious’ to stay at Chelsea

David Luiz insists he made the right decision to quit Chelsea for Arsenal as he did not want to stay in his “comfortable zone” at Stamford Bridge.

Luiz moved across the capital on transfer-deadline day after telling Frank Lampard he wanted to end his second spell at Chelsea.

The switch caused widespread surprise, but on the evidence of his first 90 minutes for Arsenal against Burnley on Saturday, the north London club have finally found the player who can hold together a previously fragile defence, helping them to a 2-1 win.

“I am so happy to be here, and the welcome was amazing,” he said. “You feel so good when you have this sort of welcome and you try to do the best for them [the fans].

“We play for them and our job is to try to make people happy. It is what I will try to do.”

At 32, Luiz said he was ready for a new challenge after two spells at Stamford Bridge, either side of two seasons with Paris St-germain from summer 2014.

“I am a guy with ambition and that is why I moved. I could have chosen a comfortable zone and get money and be cool, but I like a new

Frank exchange: David Luiz exited Stamford Bridge after hearing Frank Lampard’s plans challenge and new things. This is what gives me oxygen and motivation – to really enjoy this moment of my life.

“One day football will finish and I will miss it.”

He admitted he would have stayed at Chelsea if Lampard, his former team-mate and now head coach, had wanted him to. But when Lampard outlined his plans, Luiz decided to move on.

“Everyone knows I was so happy at Chelsea and won many trophies there.

“I had a real honest conversation with Lamps and he had different ideas for his plans for the year.

“So the best way for me to respect the club was to move on and try to do a new challenge, and to give him the opportunity to do his job.”