5 players who failed under Arsene Wenger

Arsene Wenger spent most of his managerial career in charge of Premier League giants Arsenal. During his twenty-two years at the helm in North London, Arsene Wenger managed some of the best footballers ever to play in English football with distinction.

Arsene Wenger transformed Arsenal from a well-known club with a large fan base into one of the biggest powerhouses in world football. He led Arsenal to three Premier League titles and seven FA Cups. Under Arsene Wenger's management, Arsenal became the first team to go an entire season undefeated in the Premier League.

Arsenal have always been lauded for being a club that develops young players and promotes talent from their youth academy. The club have often been criticized for their reluctance to spend big in the transfer window. The club has often opted to show faith in their scouting system and resort to bargain buys.

Wenger, though, has been credited with spotting continental talents such as Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie, Theo Walcott, Thierry Henry and Patrick Vieira at a young age. He then went on to convert them into some of the best players the Premier League has ever seen.

There have at times, however, been players who have struggled under the Frenchman. These players either failed to adapt to Arsene Wenger's possession-based attacking style of football, or were unable to cope with the pressures of playing for a club as big as Arsenal.

Let's take a look at five players who failed under Arsene Wenger.

#5 Sebastien Squillaci

Arsenal v Bolton Wanderers - Carling Cup Fourth Round

Arsene signed Sebastien Squillaci from Sevilla for just £4 million in the hope that the Frenchman would add some much-needed experience and solidity to a weak-looking Arsenal defense

Squillaci was a regular in Arsenal's starting line-up in his first season with the club and made 32 appearances in all competitions. The French defender, however, went on to play just seven times for Arsenal in his next two seasons with the club before joining Ligue 1 side Bastia.

Squillaci struggled to cope with the speed and physicality of the Premier League, and is widely considered to be one of Arsenal's worst signings in the Premier League era.

#4 Marouane Chamakh

Arsenal v Stoke City - Premier League

Arsene Wenger believed he had found a diamond in the rough after signing Marouane Chamakh from Bordeaux on a free transfer in the summer of 2010. Chamakh was tipped to be Emmanuel Adebayor's replacement at Arsenal.

Chamakh struggled to cope with the demands of the Premier League, however. He scored just eight goals in 40 appearances for Arsenal before being sent on loan to West Ham United. He went on to play for Crystal Palace in the Premier League, but never quite became the prolific striker that Arsene Wenger hoped he would become.

#3 Denilson

Arsenal v Huddersfield Town - FA Cup 4th Round

Most fans and pundits were shocked when Arsenal signed eighteen-year-old midfielder Denilson from Sao Paulo in 2006. The Brazilian had made just 21 senior appearances before his move to Arsenal.

After being on the fringes of the Arsenal squad in his first two seasons with the club, Denilson became a regular starter for the Gunners in the 2008-09 season. His performances began to dip the following season as he was unable to maintain consistency.

Denilson struggled to cope with the pressure of playing for a club like Arsenal. Despite his young age, he was sent on loan to Sao Paulo for two consecutive seasons, and Denilson eventually joined the Brazilian side permanently in 2013.

#2 Gervinho

Arsenal v Norwich City - Premier League

The signing of Gervinho from French club Lille in 2011 was one that excited Arsenal fans. The Ivorian's pace and trickery made him an exciting prospect for Arsenal and the Premier League.

Despite showing glimpses of his abilities during his time in North London, Gervinho struggled to perform on a consistent basis, often leaving his manager and the fans frustrated with his performances. After just two seasons with Arsenal, he was sold to Serie A side AS Roma.

#1 Andrey Arshavin

Norwich City v Arsenal - Premier League

The inclusion of Andrey Arshavin on this list is likely to shock most Arsenal fans. Arsenal supporters will forever remember the Russian for his sensational four-goal performance against Liverpool at Anfield in his first season with the club.

The Russian was a key player for Arsenal in his first two seasons with the club. He often occupied the No.10 or second striker role, and scored a number of important goals for Arsenal in big games.

Arshavin's performances, however, began to dip after his first two seasons with the club. In his final two seasons at Arsenal, Arshavin managed to score just one goal in 26 Premier League appearances for the club.

Despite enjoying a number of memorable games in an Arsenal shirt, Arshavin arguably never reached the heights that were expected of him at Arsenal.