Joe Willock will face his former club Arsenal on Saturday night after leaving north London in 2021. The Newcastle United midfielder said he 'gave his life' to Arsenal but did not feel valued, prompting his move to the Magpies.
Willock, who made 78 appearances for Arsenal, signed a six-year contract with Newcastle for £25million. He had been at the club since the age of four and a half but realised he was not going to be a main feature under Mikel Arteta.
Speaking in 2023, Willock recalled returning to Arsenal after a loan spell at Newcastle. He felt the love from Newcastle fans and that Arsenal clearly wanted him to go. 'I wasn’t valued at Arsenal, that became clear,' he said, adding that the decision hurt but was the right time.
The move was overwhelming, he said, as he had never been so far north. He joined a team fighting relegation and faced real pressure, which he described as 'the making of me'. At Arsenal, he felt protected as a young player, but at Newcastle he was expected to be a main player.
