ARSENAL have confirmed David Luiz will leave the club on a free agent at the end of the season after just two years at the club.
The Gunners signed the Brazilian centre-back, 34, from Chelsea in an £8million deal in the summer of 2019.
Luiz has since gone on to help them win the 2019-20 FA Cup in 73 games at the Emirates.
But Mikel Arteta has confirmed Luiz will walk away from the club this summer after negotiations over a contract extension collapsed.
And Arsenal’s official Twitter account posted an image of Luiz, simply captioned with a heart emoji following the news.
On Luiz’s departure, Arteta said: “He’s a player who has won everything in football and has earned every right to do so through who he is as a player and as a person.
“I had the privilege to work with him for 18 months. I really enjoyed it.
“I think we got on really good. I think we had some great moments together.
“He’s been really helpful, someone who we really like and appreciate so much.
“So I say thank you to him and wish him the best of luck in his next chapter.
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“I’m sure knowing David that he will have many more to come as a player and in the future somehow related to the game.”
Arteta continued by admitting he’s ‘sad’ to see Luiz go, adding: “I’ve really enjoyed and learnt from him.
“He’s been very helpful every time with the team and I feel sadness as well because you get attached to the players emotionally.
“When it gets to this stage it’s tough and it hurts because that relationship now is going to be going away, at least in this space and not seeing him every day.
“Again, I have to say thank you to him.”
Arteta explained Arsenal had been in talks with Luiz over extending his contract but admitted it was best for the defender to leave the Emirates.
The Spaniard claimed: “We have had very clear talks in the last few months.
“He’s given his best. I tried to help him as much as I possibly could. The club as well.
“And after some conversations we decided that it was the best way to do it now.
“It’s after a few conversations that we had, David and I.
“We discussed this situation in different occasions and the other day we made the final decision on that.”
Arsenal are now set to dive into the transfer market to replace Luiz, but Arteta could be convinced to give Nice loanee William Saliba a shot.
Arteta revealed: “You will see in the summer the possible replacements.
“William is our player for sure and that is a decision we are going to be taking in the summer.
“When we finish the season we will sit down and discuss the roles of every member of the squad and how they can fulfil that role.
“He is our player so he will be back here for sure and after that we will make the decision based on the agreement of the role he is going to play in the squad.”
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
