The 5 worst signings in Arsenal's history

#2 Marouane Chamakh

A marquee signing in 2010, Marouane Chamakh struggled to fit in at the Emirates

Moroccan target man Marouane Chamakh joined Arsenal from Bordeaux on a free transfer in the summer of 2010, and he actually arrived with plenty of fanfare. Chamakh had scored a total of 32 goals across the previous two seasons in France and bore a physical resemblance to Cristiano Ronaldo – but unfortunately for Gunners fans, his skills on the pitch didn’t come close to those of the Portuguese legend.

Chamakh made a total of 44 appearances in his first season at the Emirates, and was able to score a total of 11 goals, but due to his playing style – he felt like a throwback to the early 90s when English football was played in a more direct way – he never truly established himself as a first-team staple and only made 18 starts in the Premier League.

2011/12 saw him slip further down the pecking order; he made just one start in the Premier League and scored just one goal, and it came as no surprise when he was shipped off to West Ham on loan for the second half of the 2012/13 season after barely featuring for Arsenal.

The fact that he only played 3 times for the Hammers – scoring no goals – and then only managed 7 goals in 60 Premier League appearances at Crystal Palace after moving there suggests he was never quite up to the job, and so the fact that he was Arsenal’s marquee signing in 2010 puts him high on this list.

About the author

Scott is a veteran MMA writer with over two decades of experience, including his ongoing tenure in Sportskeeda, which began seven years ago. He has written over 3000 pieces for the organization, while also covering football. Before joining Sportskeeda, Scott wrote articles for websites like The Oratory and Inside Pulse MMA.

Scott has a degree in history, which drives his research skills and helps him compile accurate information. His long stint in the field helps Scott provide a clear take on important topics, such as the criticism of promotions regarding fighter pay. While he feels fighters deserve a bigger revenue share, he doesn’t want MMA to suffer with purse-split issues.

Scott’s work has been previously reshared by the former UFC middleweight champion Chris Weidman. He uses credible sources, such as the UFC’s official website, during the writing process.

His dedication to MMA writing won him the Feature Writer of the Month award for Sportskeeda in November 2021.

Outside of work, Scott likes to go to the gym, walk his dog, and travel.

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Edited by Arvind Sriram