According to a report by Fabrizio Romano on Tuesday, November 10, 2026, former Chelsea superstar Willian has disclosed that he was unhappy with his decision to join Arsenal after spending seven successful years at Stamford Bridge, admitting that he realised he had made a big mistake just three months into his spell with the Gunners.

The Brazilian winger made the revelation during an appearance on The Obi One Podcast, where he discussed his departure from Chelsea, his expectations at Arsenal and the circumstances that eventually forced him to reconsider his move.

Willian joined Chelsea from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013 and quickly established himself as one of the team's dependable attacking players. His creativity, work rate and ability to deliver important goals made him a popular figure among supporters.

During his seven years with the Blues, he won two Premier League titles, the FA Cup and the Europa League, becoming part of a successful generation at Stamford Bridge.

However, his future became uncertain towards the end of the 2019/20 campaign when discussions over a contract extension failed to produce an agreement. Chelsea were reportedly unwilling to offer him the three-year deal he wanted, creating an opportunity for Arsenal to secure his services on a free transfer.

Mikel Arteta played an important role in persuading the Brazilian to join the North London side. Willian explained that the Arsenal manager gave him assurances about his importance to the project and made him believe he would become the central figure in the team's plans.

The winger eventually accepted Arsenal's three-year offer, believing that the move would provide an exciting new opportunity for his career.

Unfortunately, his experience did not match the promises and expectations that influenced his decision.

Willian revealed that he became frustrated shortly after arriving because certain things at Arsenal were different from what he had been told before completing the transfer.

His disappointment became so serious that he approached his agent after only three months and expressed his desire to leave the club.

The Brazilian also admitted that his unhappiness affected his ability to perform on the pitch. He explained that although Arsenal offered him the most lucrative contract of his career, the financial reward could not make up for his lack of satisfaction.

He subsequently acknowledged that staying at Chelsea would have been the better choice, considering the happiness and success he had enjoyed during his time at Stamford Bridge.

Willian's Arsenal career eventually came to an end after just one season. He scored only one goal in 37 appearances across all competitions before leaving by mutual agreement in August 2021.

Following his departure, he returned to Brazil and joined Corinthians, ending a difficult chapter in his football career.

His latest confession is particularly interesting because Arsenal had viewed his arrival as an opportunity to add experience, creativity and quality to their attacking department.

However, the transfer failed to produce the impact expected, while Willian has now openly acknowledged that leaving Chelsea for their London rivals was a decision he regretted.