Arsenal Transfer Rumours: Gunners About to Capture Andre Santos

BBC.co.uk reports that Arsenal are nearing a deal for Brazil international left-back Andre Santos.  The Gunners are believed to be close to luring Santos away from Turkish giants Fenerbahce, for a fee of £6.2 million.

This would be a positive and decisive move by Arsene Wenger to address a problem position.  Santos is an experienced international who would immediately upgrade the starting left-back berth.

A troubling injury record has denied England youngster Kieran Gibbs the chance to make the position his own.

His lack of durability has already undermined Arsenal's start to the campaign.  Arsene Wenger has been forced to use four different players in an attempt to cope with the absence of Gibbs.

Thomas Vermaelen, Carl Jenkinson, Bacary Sagna and Armand Traore have all been slotted in at left-back at times for Arsenal this season, with varying degrees of success.

Traore's calamitous efforts during yesterday's mauling by Manchester United showed how vulnerable the position is.  Traore now appears set to exit the club and join newly promoted Queens Park Rangers.

Santos should resolve the uncertainty at left-back and provide Arsenal with an exciting attacking outlet.  He is an extremely quick and dynamic player who is a legitimate threat whenever he ventures forward.

Santos has a very good scoring tally for a defender and possesses close control and plenty of technical skill.

There have been question marks concerning his defending in the past, which will no doubt worry Arsenal fans naturally anxious to see more resolute defensive play.

While his positional awareness and discipline can sometimes be found wanting, Santos is a tenacious defender and has the energy and work rate to regularly track back when necessary.

His attacking prowess should not be mockingly dismissed.  Santos is a cultured passer and clever finisher, who makes plenty of incisive runs and takes up some great positions in and around the box.

The 28-year-old is just the kind of experienced performer Arsenal need to improve their ailing squad.  If a deal can be finalised, then Wenger will have managed to secure a talented international for a modest fee and made an encouraging start to his rebuilding efforts.