Arsenal Transfers: 10 Players Arsene Wenger Should Never Have Signed

1. Francis Jeffers

Forward Francis Jeffers burst onto the scene as a promising 16-year-old at Everton in 1997, while comparisons with the likes of fellow Liverpudlian goal poacher Robbie Fowler were ringing in his ears.

The striker cultivated a one-in-three goal record for the Toffees, and most observers felt he could develop into something special given the correct environment.

For some, he was a left-field buy for Arsene Wenger, who put his faith in the raw attacker to add a clinical edge to a team that were sometimes guilty of trying to walk the ball into the net.

Arsenal shelled out £8.5 million in the hope that Jeffers’ potential would be fulfilled with them, but injuries and a dearth of playing time took a heavy toll.

“I've got to be really honest, looking back on my career I left the club too soon,” remarked Jeffers in an interview with Everton's official website earlier this year.

“(Arsenal) wasn't the right move for me but it was a difficult time because of the way our football club was then, it wasn't like it is now. It was a good move for me and the club at the time, but it was definitely too soon and probably the wrong move.

“When you're sitting at home and think back at how your career's gone, I feel my head was turned. I was only young. It was difficult because I felt Arsenal were the best team in the league at the time. It was a tough decision for me because I'm an Evertonian, I'd been a season ticket holder all my life. It was a big decision but one that never worked out for me.”

Sent off in the fairly meaningless 2003 Community Shield showpiece, Jeffers’ time at Arsenal came to an end via an initial loan spell back at Goodison Park.

An all-too familiar tale of too much, too soon saw his faltering career nosedive into relative obscurity by way of numerous short stints in Australia, Malta and Scotland amongst others.

It could also be suggested that it proved a nadir moment for Arsene Wenger, who has since opted not to take such an unexpected risk in the transfer market for fear of getting burnt again.