Arsene Wenger is the most successful manager in Arsenal history and has been in his post since 1996, a sensational run leading one of the biggest sides in world football.
During that time he’s managed some of the best players in the world, bringing the likes of Thierry Henry, Patrick Vieira, Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil to North London. However, his signings haven’t always brought success.
For every exciting addition, there’s been a player who has flopped dramatically. From woeful strikers to incapable defenders, Arsenal fans have seen their fair share of rubbish ply their trade in the famous Arsenal jerseys.
Jonathan Kaney has taken a trip down memory lane to look back at some of the awful signings Arsene Wenger has made during his tenure in charge of Arsenal- and some of these may give you nightmares!
Hit the navigation buttons to see Wenger’s FIVE worst Arsenal signings!
Marouane Chamakh
Arsene Wenger signed Marouane Chamakh on a free transfer from Bordeaux in 2010 and the Moroccan striker seemed a great bit of business at first, scoring 11 times in his first 22 games.
He then inexplicably forgot how to play football and only managed 3 in his next 45 games. He turned out some of the laziest and dismal performances we’ve seen from a striker at the Emirates and is not remembered fondly by the Gunners faithful.
Park Chu-Young
One of the most bizarre signings Arsene ever made was South Korean Park Chu-Young from Monaco in 2011 for £3.5m. Wenger must have regretted signing him as soon as he turned up for training as he made only one appearance in his three years at the Gunners – an 82nd-minute sub appearance.
It’s hard to even criticize him because nobody can remember what he looks like without Googling him!
Sebastian Squillaci
One of the worst defenders to ever pull on the Gunners shirt, Sebastian Squillaci’s time at the Gunners would be funny it wasn’t true. The Frenchman was a bomb-scare every time he played and reminds me of a kid in a school team who is awful but gets a run out to participate for fun.
Apart from making a mistake nearly every time he touched the ball, the Frenchman had a particular talent for clattering his teammates, kicking thin air and falling over. Made only 23 appearances in three years before leaving on a free.
Andre Santos
Andre Santos signed for us for £6.5m from Fenerbahce on transfer deadline day in 2011 and goes down as one the clubs worst ever signings. The Brazilian turned out to be nothing more than a big lump and was truly awful throughout his Gunners career.
He’s most remembered for a horrific display in a 2-1 defeat at Old Trafford in 2012 – not only as our worst player on the pitch, but because he also decided to swap shirts with recent Judas Robin van Persie at half-time who had just scored against us. Sufficed to say the fans didn’t quite forgive him for that one and he moved on shortly afterwards.
Francis Jeffers
It’s the famous Francis Jeffers who ranks number one as Arsene Wenger’s worst signing ever. The fresh faced talent arrived to much fanfare for £8m in 2001, with Arsene Wenger memorably describing him as a ‘fox in the box’. However his fame doesn’t come for his goals or footballing ability, but more for his lack of it.
He was awful in an Arsenal shirt and has unfortunately for him became a symbol of bad transfers everywhere as he barely got a chance to kick a ball for the Gunners after some inept performances in his early career.
For those too young to remember him, he was the modern day equivalent of Andy Carroll – without the goals.