Willian has explained how David Luiz encouraged him to complete a free transfer from Chelsea to Arsenal.
Willian ended his seven-season stay with Chelsea at the end of the campaign and swiftly secured a move across the capital, signing for London rivals Arsenal on a three-year contract to continue his Premier League career.
The Brazil international won two Premier League titles and was twice named as Chelsea’s Player of the Season during a hugely successful period at Stamford Bridge, and will now hope to play an influential role in Mikel Arteta’s rebuild in north London.
The 32-year-old will reunite with former Chelsea teammate and compatriot David Luiz at Arsenal after the defender made a similar switch last summer, and Willian has revealed the influence the centre-back had in persuading him his future lay with the Gunners.
“He [Luiz] is very happy,” Willian told the official Arsenal website. “We played together in the national team, we played together at Chelsea, and now at Arsenal again.
“I think we can do great things together, I hope so, but I’m very happy to be with him again.
“He said, ‘Come to Arsenal, come to Arsenal, I want you to come!’ So that was the conversation.
“He is a very nice guy, a top player and I’m very excited to play with him again. Of course [he helped in the past], many times. Many times when I had difficult times at Chelsea he was helping me a lot.
“He is this kind of person that wants to help, especially young players without experience. He is the guy that helps everyone.”
Barcodes and bus seats: The most underwhelming Premier League kits of 2020/21
See also – Ten absolute bargain buys in next season’s Fantasy Premier League