He's sorry but Santos will still be a fall guy for Arsenal against Schalke

PUBLISHED: 12:59 EST, 5 November 2012 | UPDATED: 20:17 EST, 5 November 2012

Even after apologising to Arsene Wenger and his team-mates for making that embarrassingly premature move for Robin van Persie’s shirt on Saturday, Andre Santos is unlikely to be back in Arsenal colours on Tuesday evening.

The under-fire Brazilian is in serious danger of losing his place, with Wenger considering significant changes to his defence for a hugely important Champions League encounter against Schalke.

It is not because of one error of judgment at the end of the first half at Old Trafford, when he took the bizarre decision to ask a certain former Arsenal striker for a swap; it is because of mistakes of a purely sporting nature.

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Slammed: Andre Santos (left) was criticised by fans and now his manager after trying to swap shirts with Robin van Persie at half-time during Arsenal's 2-1 defeat to Manchester United

Centre of attention: Santos was in training on Monday ahead of Arsenal's Champions League tie against Schalke

A TIME AND A PLACE

One of Robin van Persie's most treasured possessions is a shirt that Ronaldo wore when the pair shared the same pitch for a UEFA Cup clash between Feyenoord and Inter Milan.

Van Persie was a fresh-faced, 18-year-old, gracing the same European semi-final as one of the game's greats.

The Dutchman will probably have that jersey for the rest of his days.

Andre Santos is 29. He's a Brazil international, playing for Arsenal, with spells at Corinthians and Fenerbahce under his belt.

Why he felt the need to ask Van Persie for his shirt at half-time on Saturday confused most of us watching Manchester United's win over the north Londoners.

It also angered the Gunners faithful. Several supporters reckoned they were first with 'it was the closest Santos got to Van Persie all day' gag.

The shirt-swap is a gesture, and most would agree that football, as it takes a new battering every week, needs sportsmanship.

But there's a time and a place. When the whistle blows at the end of the game, wear what you like.

Brian Lee

The brunt of Arsenal fans’ frustrations in recent weeks, Santos is finally being held accountable for his displays.

Wenger had given serious consideration to handing Kieran Gibbs an early recall from injury before deciding on Monday morning that playing him tonight would not be worth the risk. Instead, he has identified Saturday’s clash against Fulham as the England man’s comeback game.

But Wenger was on Monday plotting another option, removing Santos from his defence in a switch that would see Thomas Vermaelen shifted out to left back and Laurent Koscielny deployed as partner to Per Mertesacker in the heart of the back four.

Santos can only hope the apology he is understood to have issued — after learning of the furore he caused when his misguided approach to Van Persie was caught on camera — is enough to secure him a place elsewhere.

On Tuesday, Wenger gave Santos a public rap across the knuckles for his behaviour, even if he did also defend him against some of the criticism.

‘I spoke about that with him but I do not want to make too big a story of that,’ said the Arsenal manager.

‘I believe that was not the right thing to do at all, but that is not an explanation of our bad performance on Saturday.

‘I don’t even understand it, but it’s interesting because Santos is a player who cares. He gives an image of himself which is not him.

'He is serious, he wants to do well. The shirt thing is a difference of culture. I can understand that an English guy doesn’t understand it. I’m French and I don’t understand it either.

'But he is completely in a different world when he does that. He understands today what it means and, believe me, he won’t do it again.’

Ill advised: Santos accosted Robin van Persie at half-time

Controversial: Van Persie left Arsenal for £24million to Manchester United in summer

Unhappy: Arsene Wenger let Santos know that it was inappropriate to swap shirts with Van Persie before the game was up

Sportsmail understands the 29-year-old did not make the apology under duress from Wenger, who, privately, is said to have taken a relaxed view on the issue.

Santos, speaking to The Sun on Tuesday, said: 'I'd like to apologise to supporters who felt aggrieved by it.

'Did I think it would cause such a commotion? Of course I didn't, otherwise I would have told Robin to exchange the shirts away from public view.'

Given Wenger’s injury problems in wide attacking areas, with Gervinho and Aaron Ramsey out and Theo Walcott struggling with an upset stomach, Santos could yet find himself used in an advanced position.

The Brazilian is not the only Gunner guilty of defensive errors in recent weeks.

Fingers have also been pointed at Vermaelen and goalkeeper Vito Mannone, who have made costly errors.

Like Santos, Mannone is also likely to be dropped on Tuesday for the fit-again Wojciech Szczesny.

However, Wenger insists it is not only defensively where his side have let themselves down.

‘The problems in our defence are a bit about confidence and bad luck,’ said the Frenchman.

‘Vermaelen is in good form physically, but you have to accept sometimes that human beings go through periods where it goes less well. We are more concerned about where our creativity has gone.

‘Our defensive record is not very bad. Of course, in the three big games of the season — Chelsea, Schalke and Man United — we made defensive mistakes. But at the moment, we are not used to playing games and not creating chances. That’s what we want to rectify because that is our game.

‘We have been criticised many times for giving chances away but we are not used to being criticised for not creating, because we have a team that is based on creativity.’

Tough task: Arsenal now turn their attentions to Schalke in their bid to progress in the Champions League

Star man: Santi Cazorla scored Arsenal's consolation goal at Old Trafford on Saturday

VIDEO: Wenger doesn't doubt Santos' commitment

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We have been criticized many times for giving chances away but we are not used to being criticized for not creating, .¿¿And that is exactly what the problem is, you have to build from the back so that when you are not creating chances you are still hard to beat and can get a 1-0 result or a point. The reason we are not creating chances is simply because we have no plan B, teams do their homework on how we play and stop us, for example Rooney simply sat on Arteta, we have no natural wingers, we had no pace so we could not counter attack, Santos does not hold the defensive line and does not recover well, then we gave them a cheap goal from then on we were doomed. If the team is hard to beat and unpredictable even when you are not creating you still have a chance but right now not a chance. For example Money city are not playing well but look at their position in the league? This team is too good to be in this position. We want our Arsenal back. Gunner for life !

- Big Worm , Godalming, 06/11/2012 03:47

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To be Honest... Wenger is French after all. Say know more!!!

- Boshboy , Weybridge, 06/11/2012 03:45

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ring Mourinho- whats Marcelo and BEnzema going for Jose?

- reese , close to the Arch, 06/11/2012 03:19

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Arshavin as CAM! Yes

- Kurt , Luton, 06/11/2012 02:33

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let's get serious santos is all over the place on the pitch he's no good unless he gets his act together, why cant wenger see this???? seriously

- jay , SW7, 06/11/2012 01:55

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Really don't know why this is such an issue, RVP gave the shirt to santos, I didn't see santos taking off his and giving it to RVP. Can't arsenal fans see that this is a PR stunt to deflect attention from the fact that you lot have been woeful in the past few matches. - Junior , London, 05/11/2012 23:17 --- If this was a PR stunt Wenger would not have said that the shirt swapping was not an excuse for their poor performance. "¿I spoke about that with him but I do not want to make too big a story of that,¿ said the Arsenal manager. ¿I believe that was not the right thing to do at all, but that is not an explanation of our bad performance on Saturday.

- DNG , HK, 06/11/2012 01:52

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The head line says "Wenger slams Santos for swapping shirts with Van Persie midway through United defeat" if you read the whole article there is only one line about this head line "'I believe that was not the right thing to do at all, but that is not an explanation for our bad performance on Saturday." then the rest is RVP who scored for Manchester United after 10 minutes played for Arsenal for 8 years, they were team mates, Manchester United signed RVP for 24 million, Santos had a bad game, then some tweeter copy and paste bla bla bla. Wenger can say whatever he wants for me Santos should not have started that game, he should have shifted the back four along with Jenkinson at right back and Sagna left back or play Koscielny. He should have set that team up to make manu come out, but it was the other way round poor tactics in my opinion

- Big Worm , Godalming, 06/11/2012 00:16

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- Junior , London, 05/11/2012 23:17

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Who wouldn't want vPersie's shirt? Even Wenger asked for it at half-time and was told it was for Santos.

- City Fan 4 Lyfe , Castlefield, United Kingdom, 05/11/2012 23:11

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wenger creates and allows this subserviance which makes us so limp. toughen up the team wenger or get out. i dont care if we beat, i care a lot if we dont try.

- Littllemiss , Information, 05/11/2012 23:04

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