Willian has revealed that Mikel Arteta promised him qualification to the Champions League and an assault on the title itself within three years during negotiations between the pair.
Despite being offered a new deal by Chelsea, Willian opted to leave Stamford Bridge after they refused to grant his wish of making it last three years.
Arsenal, however, did meet his demands, and what sweetened things for the Brazilian was a meeting with Arteta in which the Gunners boss laid out his European targets.
"One of the reasons I wanted a three-year deal was to be part of a plan, not just a player passing through," he told the Sun.
“It was that he first wanted to qualify for the Champions League and win it by the time I left. That was what I wanted to hear."
The North London side have not qualified for the Champions League since the 2016-17 campaign when Arsene Wenger was still in charge.
In the 2019/20 campaign they finished eighth in the league, but still secured qualification for the Europa League thanks to their FA Cup victory against Manchester City.