Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has become famous for his eye for talent, often buying young players and selling them on for double or triple what he got them for. Though they haven’t always worked out as well as he would have liked.
Andre Santos, just say the name and Arsenal fans shudder as a look of disappointment appears of their face. The Brazilian wing-back was famed for his pace and passing ability at Fenerbahce, it was thought by many that he would fit into the Wenger system seamlessly, but how wrong could we all have been? Often looking lazy and uninterested, his life of the pitch was also criticized, as the former Corinthians defender had been fined for speeding among other offences. Now at Flamengo, he seems to have turned himself around as he helped his new club to the Brazilian cup title.
After falling out of favour at Manchester United, Mikael Silvestre looked to keep his career going at a high level, and it was Arsenal who offered him the opportunity to stay at the glamourous side of the Premier League table. After making 250 Premier League appearances for United, it was assumed that the Frenchman would fit straight into the Arsenal XI, and in theory he should have, but after causing dressing room unrest with the likes of Emmanuel Adebayor and William Gallas, he was released in 2010 and he went on to Werder Bremen. The former France international still plays, as he is currently employed by MLS side Portland Timbers, though now at the age of 36, retirement isn’t far away.
The signing of Korean forward Park Chu-Young is one that we would all love to hear explained by Arsene Wenger. Signed from Monaco in 2011, the former FC Seoul man has only appeared once for the Gunners. A less than impressive spell on loan to Celta Vigo for the 2012/13 season hasn’t improved the possibility of game time for the South Korean international, and it is likely we will never see him don the red and white strip again.
Jose Antonio Reyes is a name that Arsenal fans will always feel sorry for. Full of talent and energy, the former Spain international could have gone on to be an Arsenal great should his time in North London not have been ravaged by injury. Signed halfway through the invincibles campaign, he will however always have his name written down as part of the greatest Arsenal side in history. In 2006 he was loaned to Real Madrid in exchange for the loan of Julio Baptista. After impressing in the Spanish capital, he was signed by Atletico Madrid. He has also turned out for Benfica, and most recently, Sevilla.
One of the most pointless transfers in the history of the game, Arsene Wenger bought in Francis Jeffers from Everton in 2001 to supposedly add a cutting edge to the Arsenal attack, even though they had a certain Frenchman leading the line at the time. It is no great surprise that he didn’t set Highbury alight, as he only managed 4 goals in 22 appearances for the Gunners. It is also no great surprise that he was loaned back to Everton the season afterwards, and sold to Charlton the season after.
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