André Santos has joined Grêmio on loan until the end of the season, Arsenal have announced.
The Brazilian left-back moved to north London from Fenerbahce in August 2011, but failed to hold down a regular place as he struggled to adapt to the Premier League. He made only six starts for Arsenal this season and has now been given a chance to play regular football back in his homeland.
Many had expected Arsène Wenger to keep Santos until the summer once Kieran Gibbs was ruled out for two months with a thigh injury, but the Arsenal manager has decided to let the £6.8m signing depart for the Porto Alegre-based club.
Nacho Monreal was signed as cover for Gibbs on the last day of the transfer window and although the Spaniard is cup-tied in the Champions League, Wenger is happy enough to deploy Thomas Vermaelen in that position in the competition.
Santos, who has had spells with Brazilian clubs Corinthians, Atlético Mineiro, Flamengo and Figueirense, played for Arsenal 36 times in total. He infuriated Wenger and the Arsenal supporters when he asked his former team-mate Robin van Persie to swap shirts at half-time during the 2-1 defeat at Manchester United last November.
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