Mikel Arteta hails flexibility of new signing Willian as he kick-starts his Arsenal shake-up 

Willian took up his mega-money deal at Arsenal on Friday with manager Mikel Arteta highlighting the 32-12 months-old’s versatility as a big motive for the club’s expenditure.

Willian joins on a free of charge adhering to his release by Chelsea, but his wages — unveiled by Sportsmail on Friday to be £220,000 a week — have develop into a talking point presented Arsenal’s programs to make 55 staff members redundant.

The Brazilian has signed a a few-calendar year deal and technical director Edu claims his signing is the start of a ‘big process’.

In pure soccer phrases, Arteta feels the acquisition is a wise 1 because Willian can be utilised in midfield or on the wing.

‘He’s a player who can really make a distinction for us,’ Arteta claimed. ‘We have been monitoring him for the past handful of months.

‘We had a apparent intention to improve in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions. He is a player who presents us a large amount of versatility. He can enjoy in a few or 4 positions.

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Arsenal head mentor Arteta claims that the former Chelsea player can be a extremely beneficial asset

Willian, who will earn £220,000 a week, pressured his drive to gain trophies with Arsenal

‘He has the encounter of all the things in the soccer world but still has the ambition to come in this article and lead to just take the club exactly where it belongs. I have been truly impressed with all the talks I have had with him and how significantly he needed to occur.’

Willian will use the No 12 shirt at the Emirates, wherever his ambition is to gain the Leading League title to go with the two he collected at Chelsea. He was element of the Blues squad who thrashed Arsenal 4-1 in last year’s Europa League closing.

‘I made the decision to be part of for the reason that Arsenal is a single of the greatest golf equipment in the planet, and because of the new job with Arteta,’ he said. ‘This club justifies to glow all over again and I want to be a aspect of this job. With Arteta, Arsenal have a good option to struggle once again for titles in the Premier League and in Europe.

‘He gave me assurance to arrive to Arsenal, he said a ton of fantastic points to me, and that’s why I have come to Arsenal.’

Arsenal’s complex director Edu claims the club have started out ‘a big process’ by signing Willian

Edu added: ‘It will acquire time but with Willian we’ve started a major procedure. We’ve determined the requirements in the squad and he’s the a single to start to rebalance the squad.

‘I know him really properly, given that a lengthy time back, because we’ve been doing the job with each other for the Brazil countrywide staff and, of system, I was following him since he played for yet another club.

‘He has a good deal of amazing attributes as a particular person, as a football participant, of study course, his character. I’m absolutely sure everybody in the dressing space, the fans, myself and Mikel will delight in possessing Willian in our facet.’