Willian Spotted Out Of Shape; Fans Question His Commitment

For someone who is earning roughly £200,000 ($276,000) a week, there were a lot of expectations riding on Willian Borges da Silva. It included making sure he was in top shape.

Most were not impressed when the 32-year-old saw action in a pre-season game against Hibernian.

The Gunners lost that one, 2-1. Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang, Reiss Nelson and Eddie Nketiah had their usual starts, but the out-of-shape Willian who appeared overweight did not elude the observation of Arsenal fans.

This is aside from the fact that despite the hype on his arrival to the Emirates Stadium, Willian had a miserable first season as a Gunner.

He managed to score one goal in 37 appearances. Now Arsenal fans are livid and questioning if he deserves to be part of the team.

At this stage, most were expect Willian to work on his game and come out with a better performance. But sadly, that was not the case.

There was one instance where fans poked fun at the Brazilian. This was the part when he tried to run on to a Sead Kolasinac pass but was ten yards behind him.

Even the broadcast via the Arsenal website showed that Willian was not in good shape.

Now, most are calling on Arsenal management to deal away Willian this summer.

However, getting that across is easier said than done. He carries a huge fee, and his age has been a problem since last season.

Assuming there is a taker for Willian, it would give Arsenal some flexibility to take in other players who are more than willing to work under the watch of Mikel Arteta.

Arsenal has been trying to improve its lineup and has been linked to several names. The midfield position is one of the delicate spots that need addressing, and an out-of-shape Willian will not help.

Photo: Getty Images | Visionhaus

The only thing that Willian can do right now is trying to find a way to get back his playing shape.

It won’t be easy but doable if he is determined. Failure to do so will only place the Brazilian under more heavy criticism, some even questioning if his heart is still into playing.