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Willian signed a three-year deal at Arsenal (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images)

Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged Willian to get over his exit from Chelsea after questioning whether the Brazilian was in ‘mourning’ after his departure from Stamford Bridge.

The 32-year-old joined the Gunners on a free transfer from Chelsea last summer, having spent seven years in west London.

Willian was handed a three-year deal at the Emirates but he’s struggled to settle at the club and is yet to open his account with the Gunners.

The former Shakhtar Donetsk midfielder raised eyebrows earlier this week when he revealed he wanted to stay at Chelsea and left the club with a heavy heart.

Arsenal Training Session
Willian is yet to score for Arsenal. (Photo by Stuart MacFarlane/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

‘It was difficult to make that decision because the rivalry between the two clubs is very big,’ he told UOL Esporte.

‘It was well thought out… talking to my wife and even the agent many times. 

‘I didn’t leave the club with a fight, I left the doors open. Everyone knew the conditions, I really wanted to stay. 

‘We ended up not finding an agreement, I ended up asking for three years, Chelsea wanted to give two, and everyone knows this story. That’s why I ended up leaving.

The Brazil international was handed a rare start in Arsenal’s trip to Leicester this afternoon and Keown believes Willian may be in ‘mourning’ after his forced departure from rivals Chelsea.

Keown has urged Willian to get over his departure from Chelsea (Picture: BT Sport)

‘It’s interesting to read in the week that he wanted to stay at Chelsea,’ Keown told BT Sport.

‘Is he a player almost in mourning because he’s missing Chelsea?

‘He’s now an Arsenal player and he has to give his best for the football club. They rewarded him with a three-year contract.

‘He hasn’t really performed, he hasn’t really been in the mood. He’s looked glum as a player.

‘He needs to play his way in now, now that’s he’s being given minutes on the pitch – lets see what he can do. He’s always been a player that I’ve admired when he was at Chelsea but I’m not seeing the same in an Arsenal shirt.’

MORE : Graeme Souness slams ‘weak’ Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta over Frank Lampard criticism


Full Post Here - Martin Keown claims Willian is in ‘mourning’ after leaving Chelsea for Arsenal
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Martin Keown claims Willian is in ‘mourning’ after leaving Chelsea for Arsenal

Willian signed a three-year deal at Arsenal (Photo by RUI VIEIRA/POOL/AFP via Getty Images) Arsenal legend Martin Keown has urged Wi...
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Graeme Souness and former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard
Graeme Souness and former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard (Pictures: Getty / Sky Sports)

Graeme Souness has slammed ‘weak’ Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta after he claimed ‘everything had improved’ after Thomas Tuchel replaced Frank Lampard at Stamford Bridge.

Lampard was sacked as Blues boss last month, with former Borussia Dortmund and PSG manager Tuchel named as his replacement.

Chelsea have enjoyed a revival under Tuchel, winning six of their last eight matches and beating Atletico Madrid in the first leg of their last-16 Champions League tie last week.

Ahead of Chelsea’s clash with Atletico, Blues captain Azpilicueta said: ‘Six weeks ago we weren’t at our best. Now with Tuchel everything has improved.

‘The team has better feelings. Although the Premier has nothing to do with it, reaching the Champions League on a roll is good news. 

‘The solidity has recovered, fewer opportunities are granted and that speaks of the work of the group, from the first attacker to the last defender. With the new coach we try to control the games with and without the ball.’

But Souness was ‘disappointed’ to see Azpilicueta stick the boot into Lampard and says his comments were a sign of a ‘weak individual’.

Cesar Azpilicueta claimed 'everything has improved' under Thomas Tuchel
Cesar Azpilicueta claimed ‘everything has improved’ under Thomas Tuchel (Picture: Getty)

He told The Times: ‘I always thought Cesar Azpilicueta was a proper professional, so I was also disappointed see him trotting out criticism of Frank after he was sacked.

‘You see it every time a manager leaves a club and these are just weak individuals looking to excuse the poor performances they have produced.’

Souness also said the current Chelsea squad is not good enough to win the Premier League, despite their £250million spending spree last summer.

‘Chelsea’s squad is not good enough to win the league,’ he added.

‘Jorginho and Mateo Kovacic still border on being five-a-side players for me – the modern term is continuity players I believe. I’d want more from them if I was their manager.

‘Take Jorginho’s penalties out of the equation and he does not get goals. Nor does Kovacic. I’d want them to be more dynamic and play it forward more often.

‘They are technically gifted, neat and tidy and rarely give the ball away, but you want to see them being more penetrative with their passing.

‘Olivier Giroud is a really good impact substitute to throw on when Plan A is not working, but I don’t think he will ever be Plan A, especially at 34.

‘Who is Chelsea’s guarantee of goals? Their version of Sergio Aguero, Harry Kane or Mo Salah?’

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Graeme Souness slams ‘weak’ Chelsea captain Cesar Azpilicueta over Frank Lampard criticism

Graeme Souness and former Chelsea manager Frank Lampard (Pictures: Getty / Sky Sports) Graeme Souness has slammed ‘weak’ Chelsea cap...
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Liverpool v Everton - Premier League
Liverpool are enduring a difficult time with injuries and results (Picture: Getty Images)

Former Liverpool star Michael Thomas has backed the Reds to overcome their current issues and specifically the ‘major blow’ of losing Jordan Henderson to serious injury.

Henderson has been forced into undergoing groin surgery and will be out for at least five weeks as a result, joining the long list of injuries at Anfield.

Virgil van Dijk, Joe Gomez and Joel Matip remain out for the foreseeable future, whilt the likes of Fabinho, Diogo Jota, James Milner and Naby Keita have all been struggling for fitness in recent weeks.

It has been an horrendous season for Jurgen Klopp in terms of injuries and, while many of their experienced players are sidelined, Thomas is backing those still standing to lead the team back to winning ways.

‘Jordan is a major blow for the team both on and off the pitch,’ Thomas told CaughtOffside.

‘With the amount of experience in the squad, however, I expect the players to step up.

‘They’ve got some crucial games coming up and we need a win this coming weekend.’

Liverpool v Sunderland 1992
Michael Thomas played for Liverpool from 1991-98 (Picture: Getty Images)

The Premier League champions have been in shocking form domestically, losing their last four games in the league including an especially demoralising defeat to Everton last time out in the Merseyside derby.

They return to action on Sunday evening at Sheffield United in desperate need of a victory as they sit sixth in the table going into the contest.

On the spirit in the squad amid a difficult time, Klopp said: ‘The atmosphere is right. It’s appropriate, how it should be. Not the best but it’s all fine.

‘We all agree on what we have to do. We’ve had good moments as well. Very challenging time for this squad but you have to show your real face. We work hard.’

MORE : Jurgen Klopp feels ‘awkward’ commenting on Mohamed Salah’s Liverpool future

MORE : Jurgen Klopp faces the sack if Liverpool miss out on Champions League, says Paul Merson

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Liverpool stars must step up after ‘major blow’ of Jordan Henderson injury, says Michael Thomas

Liverpool are enduring a difficult time with injuries and results (Picture: Getty Images) Former Liverpool star Michael Thomas has ba...
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Graeme Souness says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has work to do at Manchester United
Graeme Souness says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has work to do at Man Utd (Pictures: Sky Sports / Getty)

Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ‘biggest challenge’ at Manchester United is how to get the best out of inconsistent Red Devils forward Anthony Martial, according to Graeme Souness.

Martial became the most expensive teenager in history when Man United spent an initial £36million to sign him from Monaco in 2015.

Despite showing glimpses of his undoubted potential, there is a feeling that there is still more to come from Martial, who has scored 78 goals in 254 appearances at Old Trafford.

Solskjaer has admitted this season that Martial has not been at his best, with the Frenchman scoring four goals in 20 Premier League appearances.

Souness says Martial’s form remains an issue for Solskjaer and has rated Man United’s chances of finishing in the top four this season.

He told The Times: ‘Manchester United were not great against Newcastle last weekend, but they end up getting the goals and the job done.

‘I said at the start of the season that Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s biggest challenge was keeping a fire lit under Anthony Martial and nothing has happened since to change my opinion.

Solskjaer expects Martial to come through his 'difficult patch'
Solskjaer expects Martial to come through his ‘difficult patch’ (Picture: Getty)

‘But Edinson Cavani has been a plus and they are getting the job done in most cases, so I reckon they will end up in the top four.

‘Right now, Chelsea also have momentum, so, along with Manchester City and Leicester City, that would be my top four right now, but you could ask me every fortnight from now until the end of the season and I’d change my opinion every fortnight.

‘That’s how mad this season is.’

Speaking last week, Solskjaer backed ‘hard-working’ Martial to come through his ‘difficult patch’ at Old Trafford.

‘Anthony knows what we want, and he is working really hard to do well for the team and that’s what is pleasing me the most when I see him every day in training,’ said Solskjaer.

‘He is not going to sit down and wait for things to happen, he knows he will have to make it happen himself and we encourage him, we coach him, and we know he has going this quality and class.

‘Everyone goes through difficult patches from time to time and I think we saw again tonight, he is working hard and that is the main thing.’

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Full Post Here - Graeme Souness reveals Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ‘biggest challenge’ at Manchester United
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Graeme Souness reveals Ole Gunnar Solskjaer’s ‘biggest challenge’ at Manchester United

Graeme Souness says Ole Gunnar Solskjaer has work to do at Man Utd (Pictures: Sky Sports / Getty) Ole Gunnar Solskjaer ’s ‘biggest ch...
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