‘Outstanding’ talent now explains why he left Arsenal for rivals, he didn’t think twice

Add as preferred source on Google

Lino Sousa has explained his reasoning behind leaving Arsenal in the January window Aston Villa, with the defender now on loan at Plymouth Argyle.

The 19-year-old left-back was a surprise departure from the Emirates Stadium in the winter market as Sousa made the move back to Birmingham to sign for Villa having joined Arsenal from West Bromwich Albion.

Since going the move, though, Sousa has already had his first taste of professional football with Championship side Plymouth, where the fullback will play for the remainder of the season.

Lino Sousa explains decision to leave Arsenal for Aston Villa

Indeed, the transfer was a surprising one for Arsenal fans given how highly-rated Sousa is, yet in an interview with Plymouth Live, the defender has now explained his decision.

Eventually, the move came down to a lack of playing time, with Sousa feeling he would play more at Villa and be given a better opportunity to show his worth, something that might not have happened at Arsenal

Sousa said when asked why he decided to leave Arsenal for Villa in the January window: “I wanted to get out and play first-team football, whether that was at Arsenal or elsewhere.

“I felt as if Villa provided me the right platform and the right plan to go ahead and do that, so that’s why I made that conscious decision to leave.”

Youngster made the right decision to swap Arsenal for Villa Park

Leaving Arsenal whilst you’re on the cusp of the first-team is a ballsy move for any youngster, yet Sousa might have made the right decision.

The Gunners are stacked in the left-back position, with Jurrien Timber and Takehiro Tomiyasu on their way back from injury, joining Oleksandr Zinchenko and Jakub Kiwior in the ranks.

And for Sousa, there was simply no way the defender was going to break his way into Arteta’s first team with the Arsenal manager having so many options to choose from for the left-back role.

Sousa might not make it at Villa, but with the defender already out on loan and playing regular Championship football, the decision to leave north London might be worth it in the long run.