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Daily Mirror
Daily Mirror
Sport
Sam Meade

Former Arsenal misfit Andre Santos launches blast at club's culture and lack of ambition

Arsenal flop Andre Santos has hit out at the club for their lack of ambition following his two-years in north London.

The Brazilian moved to the Emirates from Fenerbahce for €7m (£5.98m) but failed to enjoy any success.

He helped the Gunners qualify for the Champions League, but was never involved in the Premier League title race or the latter stages of a cup competition.

Santos maintains he enjoyed life in the English capital, but saw little desire from Arsenal to become serial winners citing their blase attitude to losing as a major concern.

"I couldn't win the title but I was very happy at Arsenal. Living well, training, but at Arsenal I saw no ambition to win," he told Brazilian outlet UOL .

Andre Santos failed to make an impact at Arsenal (Getty)

"When I'm in a club, I want to lift the title, but I saw that Arsenal didn't have that ambition. They played it seems that by playing. They lost and were laughing on the bus already.

"It looked like they were going to the office. I went there, did the work, and came home. I didn't have that desire to win?"

Santos scored three times during his 33 appearances, but struggled in a defence that has had its frailties for sometime now.

Andre Santos had a lot of time for Robin van Persie even after he left the Gunners (Getty)

The Brazilian, who went on to have spells at Gremio and Flamengo, is perhaps best remembered for swapping shirts with Robin van Persie at half-time in a clash at Old Trafford.

Manchester United had signed the Dutchman in the summer which greatly angered Arsenal fans, but Santos claims his actions were down to cultural differences and he shouldn't be held accountable.

He said: "I don't regret it because I never stopped being his friend. My culture is different from the English culture. I'm not obliged to be in the same culture as them."

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