Bit late to this as I was having a football detox following the end of the season. I'm a bit disappointed that Willian didn't sign the contract we offered. 2 years seemed like a fair compromise between our usual 1 year deals for 30+ players and his demands for 3 years. I still think he could have done a job for us as a squad player as he's a different style of player to any of our other wingers. I always felt he was at his best in big games where we needed someone who could run with the ball. I have always been critical of his end product but he definitely still had something to offer off the bench. Maybe, that was part of the conversation and Arteta has offered him a starring role, I guess we'll never know.

 

Still, after seeing his reported wages at Arsenal for those 3 years - it's probably not that surprising he fancied the move and it keeps him near his restaurant etc for the next 3 years at least. 

 

He has been a very good servant for us over the years and contributed to some great trophy wins and for that I'll always be grateful. I wish him all the best personally, but professionally, as he's gone to Arsenal - I hope it's a massive failure😁

5 hours ago, EdinburghBlue said:

Bit late to this as I was having a football detox following the end of the season. I'm a bit disappointed that Willian didn't sign the contract we offered. 2 years seemed like a fair compromise between our usual 1 year deals for 30+ players and his demands for 3 years. I still think he could have done a job for us as a squad player as he's a different style of player to any of our other wingers. I always felt he was at his best in big games where we needed someone who could run with the ball. I have always been critical of his end product but he definitely still had something to offer off the bench. Maybe, that was part of the conversation and Arteta has offered him a starring role, I guess we'll never know.

 

Still, after seeing his reported wages at Arsenal for those 3 years - it's probably not that surprising he fancied the move and it keeps him near his restaurant etc for the next 3 years at least. 

 

He has been a very good servant for us over the years and contributed to some great trophy wins and for that I'll always be grateful. I wish him all the best personally, but professionally, as he's gone to Arsenal - I hope it's a massive failure😁

I think they offered to play him more in a central attacking position, as per his days at Shakhtar Donetsk. 

So, Willian got an assist from a corner........

...three assists, and also hit the post with a free kick.

He'll have a few good games then go back to being pants. Seen it all before.

On 14/09/2020 at 04:23, Zeta said:

Arsenal will have a few good games then go back to being pants. Seen it all before.

Thought this fit nicely.

Willian insists he is learning a lot under manager Mikel Arteta but has admitted elements of the Spaniard's tactics have often left him 'frustrated'.

 

His performances fell off a cliff after an outstanding debut, Arsenal fans were so giddy when they were told to just wait and see and now they are getting the real Willian experience.

Arteta seems to be experimenting with him though, apparently he played as a false 9 in a match? Well he better figure it out quick because he ain't getting any younger.

3 minutes ago, sonic90 said:

His performances fell off a cliff after an outstanding debut, Arsenal fans were so giddy when they were told to just wait and see and now they are getting the real Willian experience.

Arteta seems to be experimenting with him though, apparently he played as a false 9 in a match? Well he better figure it out quick because he ain't getting any younger.

Didn't Arteta experiment with no Willian in the squad last weekend?

17 minutes ago, Valerie said:

Didn't Arteta experiment with no Willian in the squad last weekend?

He played every game prior so it's probably to rest him, on the bench tonight so he should be starting the next league match which Arse fans are now complaining about.

On 14/09/2020 at 11:23, Zeta said:

He'll have a few good games then go back to being pants. Seen it all before.

He didn't even get that far. He had one good game and has been rubbish since 😆

3 minutes ago, Scott Harris said:

He didn't even get that far. He had one good game and has been rubbish since 😆

Against the worst team in the league. 

How sad are all you people?  The bloke has long left and yet you all still have to bitch-whine about him?  f**king ridiculous.

9 hours ago, yorkleyblue said:

How sad are all you people?  The bloke has long left and yet you all still have to bitch-whine about him?  f**king ridiculous.

Here, here. 

Let it it go people.

It's no different than talking about other players and coaches that have left us over the years. Courtois, Hazard, Luiz, Torres, Costa, Conte, Mourinho, all of them get mentioned now and again in their threads and I don't see anybody complaining about that.

Edited October 31, 20205 yr by Scott Harris

17 hours ago, yorkleyblue said:

How sad are all you people?  The bloke has long left and yet you all still have to bitch-whine about him?  f**king ridiculous.

Oh don't be a grouch, Yorkley. We discuss our exes on a regular basis, sometimes with fondness (Hazard for instance), sometimes with Schadenfreude (Courtois), and sometimes with wildly differing opinion (hello Willian!). Willian divided us in blue, he'll divide us in red.

Gotta admit, I was a bit worried when he got 3 assists in his first game. Heck, he even managed to beat the first man with some corners/crosses. I was wondering why he rarely did that for us. Glad he's regressed back to his mean 

15 hours ago, Scott Harris said:

It's no different than talking about other players and coaches that have left us over the years. Courtois, Hazard, Luiz, Torres, Costa, Conte, Mourinho, all of them get mentioned now and again in their threads and I don't see anybody complaining about that.

 

8 hours ago, Valerie said:

Oh don't be a grouch, Yorkley. We discuss our exes on a regular basis, sometimes with fondness (Hazard for instance), sometimes with Schadenfreude (Courtois), and sometimes with wildly differing opinion (hello Willian!). Willian divided us in blue, he'll divide us in red.

But generally, people aren't bitch-whining about all the other exes lie they were whie the bloke was here.  Just appears a little sad, like 13-year old girls whose first boyfrend has gone off with their bestie.

Edited October 31, 20205 yr by yorkleyblue

3 minutes ago, yorkleyblue said:

 

But generally, people aren't bitch-whining about all the other exes lie they were whie the bloke was here.  Just appears a little sad, like 13-year old girls whose first boyfrend has gone off with their bestie.

Not true at all. The Courtois thread was very active with people calling him a snake when he left, and Luiz still gets mocked whenever he makes mistakes for Arsenal. It's not like this thread is getting updated daily with people taking the piss, it's a handful of posts over two months.

1 hour ago, yorkleyblue said:

 

But generally, people aren't bitch-whining about all the other exes lie they were whie the bloke was here.  Just appears a little sad, like 13-year old girls whose first boyfrend has gone off with their bestie.

Yeahhh, no, you're still a grouch and I mean that in the nicest possible way 

Arsenal fans already running out of patience with Willian. Overwhelming reaction to him starting ahead of Pepe for the United game is one of disappointment. 

I don't think it's a coincidence that we look a lot more threatening on corners now that we have a broader spectrum of players taking them this season. 

23 hours ago, yorkleyblue said:

 

But generally, people aren't bitch-whining about all the other exes lie they were whie the bloke was here.  Just appears a little sad, like 13-year old girls whose first boyfrend has gone off with their bestie.

It's more of a reaction to the hype and bull sh*t we got after the Fulham game. AFTV morons saying Willian is better than Ziyech because he grabbed 3 assists on his debut. Arsenal got ridiculous hype for that Fulham game. 

Now he's gone back to square 1 and Ziyech looks quality. Not so much dissing Willian, he was a great player here, had his best years here, but I wish him nothing but bad luck in an Arsenal shirt. (On the pitch of course). 

Arsenal fans are fuming at him today 🤣. Surprisingly he keeps overplaying it, poor crosses and choice of pass.....well I'm sure were all shocked by that...

47 minutes ago, dkw said:

Arsenal fans are fuming at him today 🤣. Surprisingly he keeps overplaying it, poor crosses and choice of pass.....well I'm sure were all shocked by that...

He could have scored a good goal, a one-two on the edge of the box and he just has to hit it cleanly yet it is on his left.

It hits the cross bar.

I was delighted when he left. His time here was appreciated however it was overstayed and it was time to move on. 
 

Decent enough player 5/6 times a season.