I don’t know if you saw what I just did with the header there, but this article is provisionally the first of possibly two pieces waving goodbye to both Arsenal’s Andre and Andrei as, sadly, the grip of Arsenal’s Russian Andrei on his north London career appears, ever more tenuous. What HAS Arsene got against the Andrew family, I wonder, shifting in my seat, uncomfortably?
Andre Santos has always been a colourful character for the club and he arrived in a blaze of optimism and more than a little hope. Largely unknown, to the English game at least, his career has been of the chequered variety, having played for a small number of sides including, since as recently a 2009, numerous times for Brazil’s national one.
It was hard to pin down his precise ‘best position’ on the pitch although ‘left-sided’ delivers a rough idea. Whether a left back or a left-sided midfielder or even winger has never been forensically established.
At Arsenal, the left and right back positions perform two of the most important roles in the side. Whilst the other positions are hardly redundant, fluctuations in team form can often be attributed to the absence of the established left or right back. That Ashley Cole, even today is widely regarded as a World Class left back in a role he finessed under Arsene Wenger gives a clue as to the importance of this role to the Arsenal side – something that hardly needs to be spelt out for most readers of this blog. For any player to truly succeed in either of those positions at Arsenal, the minimum starting point is likely to require a ‘World Class’ status tag, or at least something approaching that.
So, no pressure there then.
In as far as Andre Santos was at home ‘on the left’ and his actual home is Brazil, with 22 international caps under his, er, belt, recognition of the player’s pedigree should on paper, have been veering towards that same World Class label. Whether he is, was, could have been or might yet become World Class is beyond the remit of this piece.
And it’s true to say Andre certainly started brightly enough for Arsenal, arriving in August 2011 from Fenerbahce for around $7M according to some reports, he scored his first league goal against Chelsea in the splendid 3-5 rout at Stamford Bridge in a memorable October. This goal, a crucial second in the game (alongside the crucial 1st, 3rd, 4th and 5th strikes by others) had followed his opener in the Champions’ League meeting with Olympiakos. Things certainly seemed to be going swimmingly for Santos and to this uncultured eye, he appeared to be a player of immense promise. I was by no means alone in having high hopes for a player who seemed to have real star quality.
A memorable and heavy defeat at home to the Gunners
Yet this week he has suddenly signed off on a loan deal and we appear to be saying “So long, Santos.” Loan deals at the start of a career may be one thing, towards the end, another matter entirely.
So where did it all go wrong for Arsenal’s Andre?
That he was never hugely settled at any of his other clubs may provide one clue. That he has now signed on loan for his fourth club just shy of his 30th birthday is hardly the hallmark of the true journeyman. But Chez Andre is equally not the most fixed of abodes and whilst this in itself is hardly a hanging offence, it tells its own story, especially when taken into context of the ‘fluidity’ of his preferred position on the pitch.
Andre Santos has always come across as a nice guy, a father of one, who seemingly went out of his way to get on with teammates and public alike.
His ‘notoriety’ found its genesis in the form of a small typo that generated a big reaction.
His “Great game, gays” tweet was retweeted across TwitterLand and successfully made the tricky transition into the mainstream media, and, from there, plopped into the disbelieving ears of fans of all club persuasions. Again, hardly a hanging offence, most people found the error charmingly amusing although how our Andre reacted remains unrecorded.
His opening game-months were usefully employed deputising for the long term injured Kieran Gibbs. His equaliser at 2-2 against West Bromwich Albion laid the foundations for what really was a crucial 3-2 victory last spring. Sadly, an on-the-pitch injury led to time spent, in a foreign land, off it. As the club continued to wrestle publicly with the fall out from Fabregas’s departure, the possibly less than settled Brazilian found himself struggling to get established in an unsettled Arsenal side, despite being the no doubt proud possessor of the senior-status No 11 shirt.
It seems hard to fathom that a player as familiar with Twitter as Santos seemed to be, could have missed the eye-brows arched by the club’s supporters at the activities of Robin van Persie during 2012’s Summer of Love.
Yet the start of the new season was celebrated by Andre with a run-in – nay, drive-in – with the Hertfordshire Constabulary, when the gay, sorry, guy was allegedly chased in rush-hour traffic driving his Maserati Gran Turismo in and out of the M25 at speeds approaching 130 mph. I live very near this particular stretch of the English Autobahn and found myself ruefully congratulating Santos’s success in achieving ANY speed north of a comparatively lively 30 mph. No one was hurt, more a case of hit-the-ball-and-run than the usual hit and run.
The M25 in its usual state
Of course, had Andre been driving his other vehicle – the snazzy two door Smart car he reserved for shopping expeditions – it’s unlikely any of this would have happened as there is no way the police would have kept up with said Smart car weaving in and out of heavy traffic as it hurtled, menacingly, towards Tesco. As it was, by August 17th, one of East Finchley’s more famous residents was facing the very real possibility of a two-year jail sentence for alleged dangerous driving and a failure to stop.
Hardly ideal preparation for the start of the season; one can only imagine what Arsene had to say about the matter.
Arsene wondering what to say about the matter.
That Andre kept such a beast of a car – the Smart car, not the bog standard Maserati – especially for shopping trips just endears one still further to the man. I can’t say with any certainty whether a souped-up Smart car with tinted windows and outrageous alloys was one of the items freely disposed of to Balotelli’s friends when Mancini’s mad Italian upped his Mancunian sticks recently, but it would seem highly unlikely.
What Balotelli’s Smart car might have looked like.
Over the years, one of my favourite and most enduring images associated with players of Arsenal is the one I have in my mind’s eye of Martin Keown’s reaction to van Nistelrooy’s missed penalty. The odds against this display of playful posturing being followed up with a request from Martin to swap shirts with dearest Ruudy at the game’s conclusion is to this day still being calculated.
Martin Keown commiserates another United penalty miss.
But Shirt Gate came and went in November and with it, Santos’ place in the hearts of many Gooners. That cuddly, loveable, friendly Andre, still struggling for form and possibly fitness, should sacrifice his Arsenal career on the altar of the despicable Dutchman’s vanity is a matter of the deepest regret. Assuming, of course, this is what has actually happened. To my mind, although ill-advised, I don’t think this in itself has led to the player’s exit. More likely, perhaps, a largely unsettled man, struggling a long way from home in an unsettled side, lost his focus on the job in hand. Taking on Plod at London Colney is one thing. But a failure to properly translate his World Class potential into a genuine Arsenal-Grade left back is probably the nub of it. Everything else merely hastened his exit.
Van Persie hands Santos his Arsenal career.
But had he been a little more fortunate, slightly better advised and more settled, I could still have imagined this most talented of players carving out an integral place for himself in the side.
Today, Arsene is a man in a hurry, someone working all hours to deliver a side capable of taking on and beating all and sundry, and winning everything put before it.
Today, Andre Santos is a man heading back to Brazil, and a club called Gremio.
In a country where one might (quite possibly wrongly) imagine the police shooting anyone failing to stop their car on request (imagine explaining that one away in the dressing room), he may finally have found home.
I for one will miss him.
So long Santos, good luck, and thanks for all the (fishy) stories and headlines.
Well some of them, anyway.
Positively Arsenal 
Thanks Andrew for giving lie to the canard there is no room for sentiment in football. It seems to me that to truly love your club, you must love the players. Too often we treat them like a pack of gum, chew them up and spit them out. Not for me Andre Santos. Like a lost friend, you left a little place in my heart. Respect to the max.
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Like others I suppose I really thought Santos would make it big time at Arsenal, especially with his tendency to slip into attack mode and cut inside, rather than the more usual “wing back” hairing up the touchline. I also noticed how strong he was in the tackle. Like others I’m unsure what really happened to the “take no prisoners” Santos we saw at first. But I guess a dip in form followed another, and Gibbs taking top spot brought out another less sure-footed Santos; he seemed incapable of anything more than a meek backpass at times. Like Shotta and AA, I’ll remember him fondly. I suspect it became known to him that he was only a transitional player anyway, that Nacho had been identified, perhaps Wenger even mentioned it, and his motivation plummeted.
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After the Liverpool game ,Arsene walked down the tunnel with his arm around Andre’s shoulder.It was a touching moment ,and gave an insight into both men,
I will miss the big fellow.
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Thanks Andrew! He seems a good guy our Andre, always smiling. Started his carrer really well at Arsenal but seems to be off now, a shame really.
The tunnel incident happened at Brighton I think, George. It was a good sight though.
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Lovely write up, good luck to the cuddly left back,a nice man it seems,a rare thing in a modern day footballer? Maybe,but the really sad story at arsenal is Arshavin,bordering on a tradegy when you think about it….
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Yes ,thanks for that Mel.Bastard
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i would have thought wenger would promote him to a more forward winger pos to become say a sub for podolski in a 433 or 4231 what with his attackign instincts….
i still maintain santos is perfect for a 352 (considering the left defender of the last 3 is vermaelen, left footed, left side of defence central+side)
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Indeed Hunter ,but we dont,and wont, play 352
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We don’t play formations, that’s for lesser teams.
A fitting tribute Andrew thank you for that. Always a big shame when players don’t come up to Arsene’s exacting standards – whatever the reason. I was prepared to love Andre because he played with a smile on his face and teams need that.
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Yep,sorry about that George-one day we’ll know the full story,what’s that saying about Russia & mysterys?
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Nice one Andrew.
Real shame about Santos, excellent player, sometimes it just doesn’t work out, for whatever reason(s). The “shirt gate” malarky was a storm in a teacup, and just reinforced my contempt for the Dutch boy and his gargantuan ego rather than the lad Santos and his naivety. Had we not lost that day, it would, perhaps, have hardly warranted a mention. He seemed doomed at Arsenal from then on sadly. We should thank him and wish him all the best though. At least he won’t have to endure all that “not fit to wear the shirt” crap any longer. Good luck to him.
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It seems that Santos was remarkably popular within the squad. Several of them have tweeted fond farewells. I think he tried very hard, but was never quite match fit and suffered (suffers?) from a degree of vanity that defies imagination. I hope he does well in Porto Alegre – would love to hear positive news about him in future.
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I think the shirt incident did him a lot of damage with the fans. Fans hate RvP and Andre stupidly failed to think of that. Don’t think he was our brightest team member ever. RvP’s performance at that game was outstanding. He even managed to act patronisingly towards Arsène Wenger!
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you know what…if robin wanted to protect his mate and his ex club he could have signalled to santos “later”…but no he practically insisted in giving the shirt and making sure it was done in front of people cameras so that everyone sees how right robin was right to move and how he still has class and all that…..
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red kangaroo February 12, 2013 at 1:38 pm
vermaelen …aya aya aya aya….showed way too much respect to robin in that game…
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Thing is, 20-something year old footballers have different, personal and football relations with fellow players, sharing joys and losses, emotions, important moments. People, individually like or dislike or don’t mind each other, that’s normal and anyways players socialise; and quite different to RvP relationship with (a) fans and (b) club/employer/manager.
Personally, I am convinced that RvP as reported was in cahoots with or in contact with Man/U early in proceedings, and Wenger and Ivan either knew that, and knew he was 90% leaving for another club, since they were handling negotiations/player requests etc Giroud and Lukas were bought very early, and so obviously to strengthen strike roles.
The famous phonecall then was a ruse to muddy the waters (that contact had been established early), and a bit unlikely in the real world, maybe a confirmation or a “breakthrough call” sure, but formal offers or contact club-to-club will have been underway months earlier as player/agent and both clubs assessed all options, especially in the light of RvP’s appalling behaviour (online).
From our perspective RvP canot be other than a weak-minded individualist, very good at football no doubt, who spurned the chance to attain legendary status as a footballer for a trophy and more money, at best for 2 final seasons. What a fool. Henry was right, the cannon is heavy mate, and Robin tried and couldn’t carry it. But Giroo will!
I am very happy Robin has gone. It solved a lot of problems, especially dependence on a single striker, and false expectations.
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Question for pundits and stats types? How many players from other leagues, (and who are they), have exceeded Giroud’s results (to date) in goals and assists, in their first season/first 25 or so games in EPL, all competitions? Can’t be many. Did Torres?Maybe, he was on fire then. Suarez? Unlikely. Drogba? Aguerro, yes, I would guess. Henry? Nope, I doubt it. Very few anyway, and by their names, you can already “place” Giroud amongst the top players ever to enter EPL. Were he at the enemy the back pages would already be shouting “Giroud on Fire!” headlines, you can betcha.
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Arsenal needs one Brazilian at all times. Anyway, no matter we have a Rwandan I was excited to discover, Mugabo, and the lad is good too.
I’m an old romantic, and my Arsenal bones remind me that Arsenal, at its finest tradition has almost always boasted a larger-than-life much loved striker amongst the best of the best, ditto goal keeper (often best in England), a ball distributor considered one of the best in the world, one fast winger with flair; and a mean central defence. So, I am going, check, check, check, check and check with a little more defensive work needed, but getting there fast.
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ManU were full of arrogance with the signing of Robin. But, fact is, they paid 24m for a player for arguably one uninjured season, or maybe two, with the greatest of luck three; and no resale return, excluding his wages of what … 6m+ a year for minimum 2 years? Add 12m, total bill 36m. Imagine if he were injured. It was a huge risk. Very SAF.
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in andres farewell he suggest hes coming back how realistic that is i dont know but i wish him well, whatever there are fine lines between sucess and percieved failure as tom watt wrote about in his piece on gus caeser many years ago after gus picked up a league medal and then dissappered to scotland never to be heard of again, on the plus side a brazilian beech has got to be better than english snow !
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http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archive/santos-thanks-for-supporting-me
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Andre Santos didn’t turn out to be the all action left back I thought he was going to be, but he was a good lad and it seemed like he got along well with the other players. May he play out of his skin in Brazil and get into their world cup squad.
I don’t know what happened to Arshavin. Maybe he misses the Russian weather and his wife couldn’t get the right ingredients for borscht in London, therefore not being able to make him good borscht, but I’m very sad that we didn’t get to see the same Arshavin who tore up the Europa cup with Zenith all those years ago. He was supposed to be our blockbuster player, dammit!!
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“I want to thank all the Arsenal players who were always so good to me, especially Bacary Sagna, Mikel Arteta and Santi Cazorla for always being there for me.”
– Andre Santos.
I saw a picture of these four players and their wives celebrating Santi Cazorla’s birthday. What an interesting cross section of characters isn’t it?
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Thanks, Andrew! Brilliant as usual.
Whatever the problem with Santos it was not a lack ability. I think too much happened too quickly and it got the better of him. Confidence is so important as we all know.
I love to watch the Chelsea game highlights, that goal was really sweet. I think the moment that I am most proud of when it comes to Santos is when he came on against City and roughed up Balotelli and put him in his place.
Man, I really wanted him to get back to his last season form, but it did not happen for whatever reason, such is life.
I will miss him, big time.
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ZP, there is supposed to be a brazilian youth on trial.
http://www.talksport.co.uk/magazine/features/130211/arsenal-transfer-focus-promising-young-brazilian-trial-arsenal-191421
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Where is everyone?
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Mean Lean described Santos as a “False 3”. heh.
There was something there for all to see in those games against Marseille & Dortmund. He definitely played a role in helping to lift last seasons transitional team.
Good luck to him.
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Hi Paul!
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Farewell Andre – with the ball at your feet your were a star – and you played the game with a smile – were you a full back ? Who knows but you were 100% Brazilian whatever the f** you were
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I am preparing for the game from Parkheeed Paul – always a good night watching one of the big continental sides take on Celtic in Glasgow – if anyone wants to know how to design a football stadium they need look no further
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Any Arsenal interest tonight? Ex players, loanees?
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Arsenal links a bit thin tonight – Nic is injured I think – Does Stokes still play for the Hoops ?
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Yes Stokes is still there
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Finsbury, stepped out for lunch. Whats up bro?
Good deal Anicoll5! sounds like it will be a lot of fun. Maybe they can pull off another surprise?
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You have to wonder about these people. People of all races play football and yet there seems no end to the racism. I agree with Henry, deduct points for racism. It will not change the hearts of people but atleats black players would be able to play without having to deal with the abuse, you hope.
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1336086/inter-milan-chief-sorry-for-racist-chants-toward-balotelli-?cc=5901
http://espnfc.com/news/story/_/id/1336673/thierry-henry:-deduct-points-from-teams-with-abusive-fans?cc=5901
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Calamitous start for Celtic – and huge slice for Juve
I however assure you it will be death if the Italians try to defend the lead
More goals
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Am good Paul, thanks.
–
Celtic are already a goal down. Home crowd still in good voice, doing their best to intimidate the ref.
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Nice tribute to Andre, Andrew. I think that run in with the law might have a big part to play in him losing his way at Arsenal. I used to read his Twitter and he was always so positive and supportive of his team mates no matter what was going on for him. And some of the abusive comments posted on there could not have helped his confidence either. Nice touch by him to leave the parting message – he didn’t have to, so clearly there are no hard feelings from him.
“I think he tried very hard, but was never quite match fit and suffered (suffers?) from a degree of vanity that defies imagination”
I don’t understand this comment Red Kangaroo? Sounds like a lot of conjecture on the basis of they myth of ‘fat Andre’, much like the ‘fat and lazy Andrei’. What is it about Andre/Andrei’s and attracting this tag?
“I saw a picture of these four players and their wives celebrating Santi Cazorla’s birthday. What an interesting cross section of characters isn’t it?”
Bac speaks Spanish Gains, and Portuguese is close enough that Andre could communicate better with Spanish speakers. I remember Denilson saying this when he was here and he used to speak to Carlos Vela and Fran Merida.
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Celtic are having a go! playing well.
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Stew Black is broadcasting live on Somer Valley FM right now.
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I am with you Passenal, regarding RK’s comment. Maybe he was not match fit, as in being sharp, but you have to play to get match fit.
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Thanks for the reminder George – I thought it was Thursday night!
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What Passenal? you have lost two days?
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http://www.somervalleyfm.co.uk/audio.html
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No George, I thought the show was on Thursday night!
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Does anybody know what happened to Terry Burton? Why is Steve Gatting managing the under 21’s?
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Passenal – Steve Gatting was promoted when the previous resigned prematurely, if my memory serves me right.
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No Shotta Gatting was promoted from under 16 to under 18 when Pat Holland left early. Terry Burton was managing under 21 and Next Gen group, but suddenly Gatting is managing them?
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Juventus are doing well – they are matching Celtic for work rate, but their better quality and mastery of the dark arts is a killer.
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Well after crossing the halfway line once in the second half the team from Turin chalk up another richly deserved goal
Beatable – very beatable
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