Willian reveals why he struggled at Arsenal in fresh interview

Corinthians winger Willian claims giving up a multi-million pound contract at Arsenal was a small price to pay his own happiness.

Willian joined the Gunners on a free transfer in August 2020 after deciding to leave London rivals Chelsea.

But his one and only season at the Emirates did not go as planned. Willian managed just one goal in 37 appearances in all competitions, as Mikel Arteta’s side finished eighth in the table.

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His contract, rumoured to be worth £240,000 a week, led to criticism aimed at the club from fans and pundits alike.

But Willian since revealed that he wanted to leave just three months into his arrival at Arsenal and decided to give up “big money” to terminate his contract at the Premier League club.

He is now back in Brazil with Corinthians – who he joined on a free transfer – and despite believing in the Gunners’ “great project” he concedes he wasn’t “able to deliver” what was expected from him.

Speaking in an interview with FourFourTwo, Willian said: “Things didn’t really go the way we’d all planned.

“I wasn’t happy there, and when you’re not happy in a place, it doesn’t matter how much you try – you’re not going to be able to deliver what people expect of you.

“We had a great project and believed that it would work out, but it didn’t, and so I chose to leave and do what was best for me.”

Willian added: “At the beginning, I was super excited – new club, new team-mates, new everything.

“Whenever you turn up at a new club, you want to show what you’re capable of, and I arrived there wanting to play my best football.

“But as time went by, I realised that things weren’t going to happen the way we’d planned.

“I wasn’t happy, and that’s an important factor in a footballer’s life. When you’re feeling like that, there’s really no way you’re going to perform well, unfortunately.”

On giving up a fortune by leaving, Willian continued: “There are moments in life when the money isn’t so important and you need to focus on what makes you happy; to look for a place where you have some pleasure working.

“That’s something I didn’t have there, and staying only for the money isn’t something I’m capable of doing – there are many other things that come first for me.

“I thought to myself that I couldn’t stay just because of a contract – after all, if I did, where would my motivation, my pleasure and my well-being go?

“So that’s what I had in mind. Everybody saw what I left behind in order to pursue my happiness again.”