On paper, it may seem like David Luiz betrayed Chelsea. The veteran defender left the club on transfer deadline day to join Arsenal.
Indeed, he left the club at a time during they needed as much experience as possible within the first-team due to the transfer ban. The ban means that Lampard has been forced to utilize inexperienced and untested players this season, something which Chelsea have not done since Roman Abramovich bought the club in 2003.
Chelsea fans may also be bitter towards Luiz at this point as he opted to join Arsenal which is one of their arch-rival clubs. The transfer will be viewed in a similar fashion to some to how Ashley Cole’s controversial transfer from Arsenal to the Blues during the summer of 2006 is viewed by many Gunners fans. Cole may have been part of the Gunners side that won the league without losing a game during the 2003/04 season, but that controversial switch meant that he lost the respect of many of the Gunners’ fanbase.
Luiz has explained the reasons behind his departure
Luiz has since revealed that his departure came following an honest conversation with Lampard. The new Chelsea boss informed him that he would not be certain to start games this season. Luiz is a player who likes to add value and play as regularly as possible wherever he goes.
“I could choose a comfortable zone, get money, be cool and that is it. But I like a new challenge and new things in my life,” Luiz said as quoted by The Express.
“This is what gives me oxygen and gives me motivation. One day football will finish and I will have to find other things to try and improve every day as I will miss football.
“I am trying to be honest – first with my heart, and then honest in the way to try new things.
“Everyone knows I was so happy at Chelsea and I won many trophies there. But I had a real honest conversation with Lamps, and Lamps had different ideas with his plans for the year.
“So the best way for me to respect the club was to move on, try to do a new challenge and give him the opportunity to do his job.”
His move to Arsenal is likely to allow him the opportunity to play more regularly as well as to help a side to win major silverware. He will help to solidify Unai Emery’s back-line which looked shaky for much of last season. Chelsea fans can also be happy that their club got a fee for the sale of Luiz. It is much better than having him barely play, run down his contract and eventually leave on a free transfer.
