Wenger: Santos needs to tighten up

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says his Brazilian full-back Andre Santos must improve the defensive side of his game.

Santos was signed from Turkish side Fenerbahce in the January transfer window but has so far produced mixed performances.

On one hand Santos has scored twice, including one in Arsenal’s last Premier League outing – a thrilling 5-3 victory against Chelsea – but the 28-year-old has attracted criticism for his defensive efforts.

Wenger acknowledges Santos needs to improve his defending, but is a fan of the Brazilian’s creativity.

“I feel it’s an important part of winning – having a full-back who creates,” Wenger told The Daily Mail.

“Take the Brazilian national team, the teams who have won, you will see that there is always two good full-backs.”

“With two average full-backs they would not have won. They had Carlos Alberto, Roberto Carlos. Jorginho, Cafu.”

“He (Santos) needs to improve on defending, of course. But it’s easier to give him that. They have a different perception of full-backs in Brazil than in Europe.”