Willian tipped to make Van Dijk-like impact for Arsenal

Ray Parlour believes Willian isn’t a ‘bad deal’ for Arsenal and tipped the Brazilian to make a similar impact to what Virgil van Dijk has achieved at Liverpool.

Arsenal finally confirmed the obvious in announcing that Willian had penned a three-year deal to join them from Chelsea on Friday.

The Gunners’ decision to sign a 32-year-old on such a long-term deal raised a few eyebrows, though. Especially as Chelsea were so reluctant to offer him similar terms previously.

But Parlour is convinced Mikel Arteta has bagged himself a great player and compared William’s arrival to that of Virgil van Dijk from Southampton to Liverpool in 2018.

“He’s been brilliant for Chelsea and I’m sure the Chelsea fans will have been delighted with his form over the years. I think it’s a good signing for Arsenal,” Parlour told talkSPORT.

“He will give the goals from midfield that they are probably lacking at the moment.

“It’s all about performances, you can go back to Virgil van Dijk when he went to Liverpool, people were saying it’s too much for a centre-half but look at the performances.

“Nobody mentions it now because he’s been so important for them winning the league and winning the Champions League. It’s all about performances on the pitch, money shouldn’t come into it.

“Arsenal’s logic is, they’re going to pay him £10m-a-year, but that sort of player would demand a lot more if you were going to go and buy someone, so in that respect, it’s not a bad deal.”