Arsenal whizkid Chris Willock joins Benfica in bid to get more first team opportunities
The youngster has put pen to paper on a five year deal with the Portuguese club after making just two appearances for the Gunners
ARSENAL have been dealt a blow as Chris Willock has completed a move to Benfica.
Willock, 19, is out of contract at the Emirates next month and has now been pictured wearing a Primeira Liga champions shirt.
The youngster has put pen to paper on a five year deal with the Portuguese club.
Willock's only two appearances as a substitute for the Gunners came in last season's EFL Cup.
Fed-up with the situation, the England Under-19 international travelled to Portugal to discuss terms over the free transfer.
And Willcock, who has been with the north London club since 2003, could get his chance to prove his worth against Arsenal in the Emirates Cup next month.
Willock is rated amongst the brightest prospects to emerge from Arsenal's academy and the Gunners were hoping to get the young winger to sign a new long-term deal.
Manchester City, Everton, Celtic and Borussia Dortmund were also reported to be interested in signing him.
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Last year Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger spoke glowingly of Willock and predicted a bright future for him.
Wenger told the Evening Standard: "Chris is a very gifted player with natural strength and natural talent.
"He has what you do not find very easily.
"He can have a go at people, can get past people in one on ones.
"We forget sometimes that the basis of team sport is to first be strong one against one and Chris has that quality.
"I would be very comfortable to play him now.
"But, of course, there is a lot of competition for places because there are players like [Theo] Walcott, Alexis [Sanchez] and [Danny] Welbeck in front of him at the moment."
Willcock comes from an amazing football family: his youngster brother Joe is also at Arsenal while older brother Matty is with Manchester United.