Arsenal’s title drought has now lasted 13 years and many frustrated fans blame Arsene Wenger’s failings in the transfer market for this situation. In the first half of his tenure he unearthed gems like Thierry Henry, Nicolas Anelka and Patrick Vieira, but the second half has been characterised by the likes of Park Chu-Young, Marouane Chamakh and Carl Jenkinson. It was epitomised perfectly this summer when Premiership clubs published a list of all players released and fans learned that Yaya Sanogo was no longer an Arsenal player. Wenger told everyone he had found the new Anelka when he signed Sanogo, but the gangly Frenchman played just 20 times and flopped completely, so much so that he is yet to find a new club. But “Sano-goals” is by no means the worst player Gooners have been subjected to over the years. Here we have put together a team full of his biggest flops.
Goalkeeper: Richard Wright
Wright was hailed as the heir apparent to David Seaman, but he endured one miserable season before being shipped out to Everton at a loss, and he has never made it as a Premiership keeper.
Right back: Nelson Vivas
Vivas gets the nod ahead of Jenkinson, Oleg Luzhny Guy Demel and the much maligned Emannuel Eboue as the right back in this horror show of a team. Wenger blamed Vivas’ dreadful positioning as Arsenal lost to Leeds and squandered the 1998-99 title, and he was a terrible signing.
Left back: Andre Santos
The Brazilian was a panic buy after Arsenal were thrashed 8-2 by Man Utd in 2011 and he was truly abysmal. He could not defend, he was out of shape and he enraged fans by swapping shirts with Robin van Persie at half-time as the former Arsenal captain helped Man Utd beat them.
Centre back: Igor Stepanovs
This is arguably the most competitive position in the All Time Flops 11 as Wenger has signed many a shocking centre back, from Philippe Senderos and Johan Djourou to an over the hill Mikael Silvestre, but the woeful Latvian gets the nod. He partnered Luzhny as Arsenal lost 6-1 to Man Utd and his Arsenal career was characterised by mistake after mistake.
Centre back: Sebastien Squillaci
Some terrible defenders have worn the number 18 shirt during Wenger’s tenure, from Pascal Cygan to Silvestre, but Squillaci is probably the worst. He had been capped for France but was a complete disaster, lacking pace and positioning awareness and costing Arsenal dearly on so many occasions.
Central midfield: Kim Kallstrom
Wenger signed the Swede on loan in January 2014 only to ease a midfield crisis, only reveal Kallstrom was injured. He played four times and then left. Denilson was a worse player, but Kallstrom gets the nod because it was just such a bizarre decision from Wenger.
Central midfield: Junichi Inamoto
Wenger has a great fondness for Asia and Japan in particular, and has tried vainly to bring an Asian star into Arsenal’s ranks on several occasions. Park was a complete flop, as was Ryo Miyaichi, but neither can hold a torch to Inamoto. He failed to start a single league game and was shipped off.
Right wing: Andrey Arshavin
The Russian was supposed to be Arsenal’s saviour after he arrived at The Emirates on the back of a magnificent performance at Euro 2008. He was a record signing for the club and initially delivered on his promise, but his Arsenal career soon descended into farce. The lazy, disinterested Arshavin became the symbol of discontent among fans and he left with his reputation in tatters. For that he beats Amaury Bischoff, Christopher Wreh and Alexander Hleb for a place in this team.
Gervinho
The Ivorian is the one player that epitomises Arsenal’s struggles as they failed to win a trophy between 2004 and 2014, an infuriating blend of atrocious finishing, abysmal ball control and misplaced passes. He improved at Roma and is now earning a small fortune in Japan, but will be remembered as a catastrophe at Arsenal.
Julio Baptista
The Beast was supposed to be Vieira and Anelka all rolled into deadly bundle of pace, power and finishing ability. He was more like Park and Sanogo all rolled into a useless bundle of dross. He complained about the English weather, missed loads of chances and left for a career that descended into abject failure.
Marouane Chamakh
There are many candidates for the final place in the side. Niklas Bendtner, the self-styled greatest striker on Earth, who could not cut it in the Championship at Nottingham Forest; Francis Jeffers, the fox in the box that was more like a fox in the headlights; Park, Wreh, Sanogo, the list goes on and on. But it is hard to leave out Chamakh. He suffered from a lack of pace, finishing ability, aerial prowess, hold up play, pretty much anything you want in a striker. It is made all the worse by the big reputation he came with, and he has since flopped at West Ham and Crystal Palace.
Disclaimer
Wenger has been at Arsenal for more than two decades and his good signings far outweight his bad ones. You could name a Best Signings 11 of Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Clichy, Pires, Ljugberg, Vieira, Petit, Henry and van Persie and still not have room for the likes of Fabregas, Sanchez, Overmars, Koscielny and Anelka. And he has not made many clangers of late. Arsenal have a strong squad and if he can rediscover his magic the Gunners can seriously challenge for next season’s title, making a mockery of the 11/1 Sun Bets football betting odds currently on offer on them. If he can land the likes of Thomas Lemar and Kylian Mbappe, it could usher in another glorious period for the club.
Guest Post by Martin Green
Author bio
Martin Green is an experienced sports writer and has covered the Premiership for many years. He is an Arsenal fan and has a soft spot for Luzny, Bendtner and Eboue.