Arsenal confirm signing of ex-Chelsea winger Willian on a three-year deal

Arsenal has confirmed the free signing of former Chelsea winger Willian with the Brazilian set to earn an astonishing £220,000-a-week at the Emirates Stadium.

The 32-year-old’s arrival was confirmed on the Gunners’ Twitter account on Friday morning as he signs a three-year contract and is handed the no 12 shirt.

And Willian has set his sights on winning the Premier League title and European trophies with Arsenal after manager Mikel Arteta convinced him to sign.

Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta said: ‘I believe he’s a player that can really make a difference for us.

‘We have been monitoring him for the past few months, we had a clear intention to strengthen in the attacking midfielder and the winger positions [and] he is a player that gives us a lot of versatility, he can play in three or four different positions.

‘He has the experience of everything in the football world but to still have the ambition to come here and contribute to bring the club where it belongs.

‘I have been really impressed with all the talks I have had with him and how much he wanted to come.’

Gunners Technical director Edu said: ‘I know him very well, since a long time ago because we’ve been working together for the Brazilian national team and of course I was following him because he played for another club.

‘He has a lot of fantastic attributes as a person, as a football player, of course, his character.

‘I’m 100 per cent sure that everybody in the dressing room, the fans, myself and Mikel will enjoy having Willian in our side.’

Willian who joined Chelsea from Anzhi Makhachkala in 2013, won two league titles, the FA Cup, the EFL Cup, and the Europa League before moving to Arsenal.