Arsenal welcome Willian with salary bigger than Aubameyang’s

It should not be wrong to classify Willian as Chelsea reject as the Stamford Bridge executives turned down his demand for a longer contract thus turning him to a free agent. As painful as it may be for Willian and his teeming fans, Arsenal appear to have made up for that as they have handed the Brazilian a salary that is the second-highest at £220,000 per week.

The £220,000 pay puts him behind only Mesut Ozil as the Gunners’ top-paid stars. The revelation made by The Sun.co.uk on Friday surprisingly puts the former Chelsea winger ahead of captain and top-scorer Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.

Willian who had his medical on Wednesday completed the transfer on Friday morning.

And he signed a three-year deal worth up to a reported £35million -working out as £220,000 per week – with an option for a 12-month extension.

Aubameyang, though, is in negotiation with the club for bigger pay. The Gabon international should get a contract extension and could receive a bumper pay rise up to £250,000 a week from his current £200.000.

The Daily Mail report adds that the 32-year-old’s huge weekly wage is made up of a signing-on fee, loyalty payments and other bonuses. For the details, his basic weekly packet is thought to be closer to £130,000 before bonuses and further top-ups.

But if there is any pay that is worrisome to the Arsenal folk, it is what goes to former Germany international Ozil. Despite not playing a single minute of football since March, Ozil remains on £350,000 per week.

Alexandre Lacazette, Nicolas Pepe, David Luiz and Hector Bellerin are also among the top earners for the FA Cup winners.

Lacazette is on £182,000 as the fourth highest earner with Pepe at £140,000 and David Luiz at £125,000.