Arsenal have announced that striker Chris Willock has left the club to join Benfica.
The 19-year-old has signed a long-term contract with the Portugal giants.
He was described as a "very gifted player" by manager Arsene Wenger earlier this year.
Back then, the 67-year-old declared that the striker would have enjoyed some regular first-team football in his setup.
But apparently he changed his mind as he allowed him to leave the club.
"Chris is a very gifted player with natural strength and natural talent," Wenger said.
"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 believe that he has the needed character when he has his back to the wall to always respond in a very strong way. That's a very important quality, to be able to play under pressure.
"Overall 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 Walcott, Alexis and Welbeck in front of him at the moment.
"If I had to play him then I would have no fear in doing so. Next season I think he will be a player who will get to feature in the team."
