Arsenal: Willian is not the “second act” this club needs

Say what you will about this Arsenal season, but there is cause for celebration… but the festivities should not be started with signing Willian.

Many Arsenal fans are griping about this season. Eighth place is not where we want to be, we’re not competing for top-shelf silverware, we’re not blah, blah, blah… But I loved this year. There are few things better than seeing the direction the club is heading.

Honestly, even before the FA Cup, I said that it’s not necessary to win. It’ll feel good—and it does—but overall, the main thing it does is reaffirm what we already knew. And that’s that Mikel Arteta is taking this club in the right direction.

Conveniently, the transfer window is now open to add to the festivities of the Cup win. Not just that, but fans are eagerly awaiting the fate of Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang and Dani Ceballos, all the while believing that we can keep hold of these two crucial pieces to the puzzle.

Elsewhere, Thomas Partey continues to be heavily linked and with so many pieces in place, it feels like just a matter of time before he can be inked to an official deal to bolster this midfield.

All of these things would be excellent “second acts” to the FA Cup win. And there are more too—a big sale of dead weight, losing Mesut Ozil, adding another centerback—the options are numerous. But they do not include Willian.

Let me get this out of the way—I’m not wholly opposed to adding Willian. Honestly, if we plan to use him as a No. 10, it’s not the worst idea in the world. It’s budget-friendly, he’s a proven commodity, we need creative help.

But he’s not where you want to start the summer. Not even close. It is such a tame tiptoe into transfer business. It’s a letdown. You have to fire another shot that resonates with fans. Something big, something palpable.

Willian is a limp. He’s a water gun. He’s the kind of signing you slip in there when fans are already hyped up over someone else big, like a contract extension or a Thomas Partey.

Honestly, I’d rather not see Willian at all. But if we have to get him, I’ll convince myself (and do my best to convince you) that he is worth it. Just don’t make me do that first, before we have anything else to announce.