Willian admits Arsenal spell has been ‘worst’ time of his career

Normally there are players who divide opinion at Arsenal. Every now and then there is a star who has the undivided love and adoration from the fanbase, but generally they can be quite hit and miss. Willian is firmly in the miss zone.

The Brazilian has been horrendously poor.

He has, however, deserved unquestionable praise for his recent upturn in form, starting with a decent cameo away at Olympiacos and then transferring that into his best display of the season in the 3-1 away win over Leicester.

There have been signs on improvement since; indications that he may be set to have some meaningful impact on the side even if there is little to suggest he’ll be regularly impressive when he’s 47, or whenever it is his contract ends.

Willian admits Arsenal spell has been ‘worst’ time of his career

It’s been tough. Willian‘s dreadful form for almost the entirety of the season coincided with the rest of the squad underperforming. He has acknowledged that though, going as far as to say it’s been the worst period of his entire career.

"“I also got a bad streak and I think my worst professional time to date, since I went up at Corinthians and was sold to Ukraine, then I arrived at Chelsea, without a doubt,” he told ESPN Brazil. “This phase that passed now was the worst time that I think I lived as a professional.“I knew more than anyone that I’d have to improve, I’d have to get out of the situation I was in, no matter how much I received support from my teammates and technical staff, but the the only one who could get out of this situation, of not being able to find the football that everyone is used to watching me play, was myself.”"

Admitting to having had a spell of soul searching to recapture his form, hearing him admit fault for his performances is refreshing.

There is still a heck of a long way to go for Willian to justify being signed on a three-year deal with the money he’s on, a feat he will never achieve, but that is’t stick to beat him with.

He took the best deal available, and now it’s up to him to justify it. The signs are there, and here’s hoping that he can be a valuable member of the squad moving forward.