Arsenal Transfers: 10 Players Arsene Wenger Should Never Have Signed

2. Andre Santos

Let’s get one thing straight, Andre Santos was not a left-back. Simple. In fact, he was no more than an average winger playing out of position.

Santos came from Fenerbahce for £6.2 million with 22 Brazil caps in his locker and the weight of expectation on his shoulders that he could be the one to finally fill the shoes of long-departed Ashley Cole, who hadn’t been adequately replaced.

However, a series of inept displays left fans exasperated, with his defensive frailties exposed repeatedly for all to see. The supposed defender was rarely found in the left-back role he was bought to fulfil.

He further sullied his relationship with sceptical supporters when swapping shirts at half-time with hero-turned-villain Robin van Persie after he’d netted for Manchester United in November 2012, also giving him a hug for good measure.

Van Persie had left the Gunners for their hated rivals only that past summer and had been branded a traitor by all-and-sundry. That insensitive act wouldn’t go unnoticed. The writing was on the wall – Santos had to go.

Just four months following his ill-judged love-in versus United, he was sent away on loan to Gremio, never to return.