Done deal: Attacker signs for Euro giants after Arsenal release
By Danny Wright
Arsenal have confirmed that attacker Chris Willock has signed for European giants Benfica.
A statement on the Gunners’ official club website on Friday night announced that the 19-year-old had failed to earn a new contract in North London and has signed a deal with the Portuguese outfit.
Benfica confirmed on their official website that the attack-minded winger has signed a five-year deal with the club following his release from Arsenal.
He only earned two senior appearances with the Gunners, with both coming in the EFL Cup last season, and now, Willock is hoping to get more first-team football at the Estadio Da Luz.
“I hope I can show what I can do on the pitch. I think we have a great team and we can achieve great things in the future,” he said, as quoted by Benfica’s official website.
Willock is a product of the Gunners academy and he was a major part of their Under-23 squad in Premier League 2 last season.
He made 20 appearances for the development side in 2016/17, scoring three goals and supplying eight assists.
The ten-times England Under-19 international’s only senior matches for Arsenal came last term when he came off the bench in EFL Cup triumphs over Nottingham Forest and Reading.
Football Insider Verdict
It’s going to be a great education for Willock at a historic club like Benfica. He will learn how it feels to play for a team that has the capability to win multiple honours in a season, but first he will have to prove to his new manager that he has what it takes to play in the senior squad. Benfica are known for developing youngsters into some of Europe’s hottest talent. Willock could find his spell in Lisbon as the catalyst to kick-start what may be a very good career indeed. He could even secure a big-money move back to the Premier League in the future if things go well in Portugal.
In other Arsenal news, fans have taken to Twitter to urge Arsene Wenger to buy this Brazilian ace.
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