On Friday morning [August 14], it was finally announced that Arsenal had signed Willian on a free transfer following the expiration of his Chelsea contract this summer.
While his arrival will add needed depth in the creative spaces behind the central striker, whether or not the 32-year-old warranted a three-year deal - expected to be worth around £100,000-a-week - has been up for debate among Arsenal fans.
Especially considering Chelsea only willing to offer him two additional years instead of three was a key reason for him declining their contract extension proposals.
Although handing a three-year contract to a man that will entering the twilight of his career may rightly raise questions as to where Arsenal's priorities lie, their decision to give Willian a deal of that length is a clear indicator of what Mikel Arteta is trying to build.
When appointed in December 2019, the Spaniard was handed a three-and-a-half year deal. The major point to notice at the time was that it was longer than the two-year contract [with an option of a third] signed by Unai Emery when he took charge in the summer of 2018.
Almost eight months down the line, one factor that has become apparent is how keen Arteta is to rebuild Arsenal in his image, securing Willian for three years will be key to that.
Winning the FA Cup final against Chelsea cemented how far the Gunners have come since his arrival, but the 38-year-old knew whatever the result at Wembley, there was a key area to address in his squad.
Yes, there were certain footballing needs, such as another creative player to unlock defences, but finding a core base of players to help enhance his vision for the club was just as important, and was something he specifically highlighted as one of Chelsea's strengths ahead of the final.
"Absolutely [he wants to replicate Chelsea's winning culture]. They have some very important core players in those winning teams and it’s something that has given the platform to be consistent," Arteta said on August 1.
"Before they weren’t a winning team and they managed to change that mindset and convince players, and even put pressure towards everybody at the club that the only aim was to win.
"I think we have some really good core players."
Assessing the current squad, the two players that stand out as core members for what Arteta envisions are David Luiz and Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang.
Both players emerged as key components to what he requires from his players in distinctive patterns of play while helping guide the side both literally and figuratively to the success they had in 2019/20.
This wasn't just the FA Cup final victory, but also very much the development of the side's youngsters, with Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli heaping public praise on Luiz for his role in their progress while Aubameyang has also taken a role in helping them settle in the first team.
Luiz may have only extended his deal until 2021, but the fact Aubameyang is also close to signing a three-year deal goes to show that Arteta's plans for this project are long-term.
In three years time, at the ages of 35 and 34, Willian and Aubameyang may not be regular starters - or maybe they will if they're fit enough - but having them to guide the evolving squad will play just as an important role for Arteta as he looks to propel his Arsenal forward when it is time for this group of core players to move on.
Of course, however, the next step is getting the club captain to confirm he will be staying with the club.
