Arsenal defender David Luiz has explained why he left Chelsea on transfer deadline day. The Brazilian said he felt his time at the Blues had come to an end and wanted to seek out a new challenge:

“The cycle [at Chelsea FC] finished there. It was a conversation between me and Chelsea and everybody. I had an opportunity to come to another big club. In my life, I’ve always liked to do some challenges. I’m not scared at all to try things.”

“I think not too many players would make this kind of move, they would maybe be scared, or something like that. I’m just trying to do big things in my life, so like I said, my cycle at Chelsea finished and now I’m excited to start a new chapter of my life here.”

Blues manager Frank Lampard confirmed in his pre-match press conference yesterday that he held some “honest” conversations with Luiz this week, with both concluding that it was the right time for the defender to leave.

Lampard denied that there was a falling out between the pair, and it was simply a matter of team selection. Kurt Zouma and Andreas Christensen are expected to start against Manchester United tomorrow.

Antonio Rudiger is back in training after a lengthy absence due to a knee injury but the German may need another week or so before he is back in contention for a first-team place.

With Ethan Ampadu having been loaned out to RB Leipzig, Fikayo Tomori will be the club’s fourth choice defender heading into the new season.