Willian’s Arsenal career is finished – transfer never closer

Willian has as many admirers at Arsenal as he has goals. The Brazilian has reset the benchmark for what a failure can be; redefined the meaning of being a flop. He’s also never been closer to leaving north London.

Watching Arsenal players drop like flies in the build up with absences through illness adding to those in the treatment room nursing injuries, excitement became mixed with dread.

Of course, having no Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Alexandre Lacazette or Eddie Nketiah to lead the line was less than favourable, but it presented an opportunity for Gabriel Martinelli and Folarin Balogun. That breeds excitement.

But that’s before everyone began contemplating the reality: opening fixture of the Premier League season, three points being essential and inexperienced options could very well have seen Mikel Arteta plump for the tried (failed) and tested (out of date).

Willian’s Arsenal career is finished and a transfer departure has never been closer following absence from Brentford Premier League defeat

Indeed, the prospect of a Willian false nine began to creep in. Surely, surely not.

He didn’t just not play, though. Oh no. He wasn’t even in the stadium. No Willian anywhere to be seen, this despite Arsenal missing three first team forwards, a midfielder and a central defender from the squad. Even with all those out, he didn’t make the bench.

Willian’s Arsenal career is over. Even if it never really began.

Prior to Friday’s horror show, Arteta spoke openly about the possibility of the 33-year-old being moved on having also left him out of the squad to face Tottenham in pre-season.

"“I don’t know [if he could be sold this summer], he’s our player. There’s a chance with any player that anything can happen in this market,” Arteta told ESPN Brazil.“He’s our player right now and our focus with any player in our team is to make him better and fulfil the potential he has individually to bring it to the collective unit.”"

Journalist Joao Castelo-Branco of ESPN Brazil even added that the former Chelsea man has made it clear to Arsenal that he is willing to leave if an offer comes in. That’s no surprise either, he’s miserable in north London and now not getting picked for terrible squads even with absentees galore.

This is as close as he’s been to leaving. All the noises suggest so and Arteta couldn’t make it clearer that he wants him gone. It’s a standout positive following Friday’s defeat.

Can he go? Sadly, it’s hard to envisage where he possibly can go. The most likely outcome at this stage is him loaned out somewhere in the middle east where Arsenal pay a proportion of his wages. That’a about it. It won’t be a hands clean deal – any departure for Willian will cut fresh scars and leave lasting ones – but he just needs to be out. For everyone’s sake.

While he may have never been closer to the exit door, there is still a long and winding corridor to navigate through first. But there is a chance greater than before.