‘Different ideas’: David Luiz explains why he left Chelsea for Arsenal

After sitting out their first match of the season, David Luiz made his Arsenal debut earlier today, starting their 2-1 win over Burnley at the Emirates. With two wins from two, he’s certainly enjoying a good start to life at the Gunners.

Speaking to Mundo ESPN after the game, the 32-year-old put his decision to leave Chelsea down to a difference of ideas and philosophy with Frank Lampard, whatever those may mean. He does not reveal why he waited until the final few days to voice his disagreements in what Lampard also called “honest talks”, but maybe someone will write a book about it in the future.

“It was a great pleasure (to play first game for Arsenal). It is a new challenge in my career, where I took the decision to fight for new things, and I enjoyed it in the best way possible.”

”In talks with Frank [Lampard], [he revealed] he had a different plan for the year. So we spoke in total honesty, and he made it clear that he had different ideas from mine. So I had this opportunity, to receive an offer from Arsenal, which is a great club.

”I still respect Chelsea. It’s never easy for people to understand everything that goes through. But my decision was also to respect Chelsea and their new manager, who wanted to implement a different philosophy at the club.

”And so I decided to get on this new journey, a new home, where I’ll do everything to shine as well [as I did at Chelsea].”

-David Luiz, source: Mundo ESPN

While it remains hard to believe that Frank Lampard's tactics or “philosophy” didn’t have any place for David Luiz, or how it is respectful to your old team to drop such a bombshell in the waning hours of a transfer window, that is essentially the story the defender is selling.

Take it for what it’s worth.

In any case, we wish David Luiz good luck in his future endeavours, as long as they do not negatively impact Chelsea unlike the last time he left the club.