Arsenal have started to return to their best form in recent matches. The Gunners have picked up seven out of a possible nine points in their last three league fixtures.

Arsene Wenger’s side struggled over the Christmas period with consecutive 2-1 defeats away at both Everton and Manchester City.

Arsenal missed the chance to return to third in the Premier League table after drawing 3-3 away at AFC Bournemouth last Tuesday evening.

Wenger’s side are currently in fifth position in the league, but they are still firmly in the title race.

Despite struggles over December, the Gunners have only lost three league games all season.

They have been recently hit with a number of injury problems for their first-team.

The French manager may be forced to dip in to the transfer market to add some more depth wherever he sees necessary.

The North Londoners have been known to bring in a couple of fresh faces in most winter windows with varying levels of success, but here are their WORST THREE January signings over the past  12 years…

Kim Kallstrom

In January 2014, Swedish international Kim Kallstrom joined Arsenal on a six-month loan deal from Russian side CSKA Moscow.

His loan fee cost the North London side over £600,000, an amount that went towards all four of Kallstrom’s appearances in a red shirt.

Wenger didn’t even need a midfielder at the time and it was quite a poor signing in truth.

It was an awful signing for the Gunners, but surprisingly it was not the worst made by manager Wenger.

Luke Freeman

In January 2008, Luke Freeman arrived at the Emirates Stadium following a £255,000 transfer from Gillingham.

Despite being an Arsenal player for four years, Freeman never made a first-team appearance for the Gunners.

Freeman featured in loan spells at both Yeovil Town and Stevenage during his unsuccessful spell in North London.

It’s fair to say that the quarter of a million transfer fee and four years worth of wages was a waste of money from Arsene Wenger’s budget.

Freeman is currently playing for Bristol City in the Championship.

Wellington Silva

In the 2011 winter transfer window, Wellington Silva joined Arsenal from Fluminese for £3.4m.

The Brazilian winger spent five and a half years at the Emirates without featuring at all for the North London side.

Silva went out on loan six times during his time in London.  The 24-year-old had loan spells for Levante, CD Alcoyano, Ponferradina, Real Murcia, Almeria and Bolton Wanderers (Pictured) before returning to Fluminese last July.

Wenger may have received £2.55m when they sold Silva. However, five and half years at a club, over £3m spent and no first-team appearances makes Wellington Silva Arsenal’s worst January transfer in recent years.