Arsenal: Sead Kolasinac must only be the start

Sead Kolasinac is set to sign with Arsenal on July 1st when his contract expires. The new recruit, though, must only be the start of an active summer.

The summer transfer window arrives with a myriad of hope and expectation. Whispers of transfer kitties and big spending owners, coupled with the hopeless optimism of fans, often sees hysteria and unhinged hope engulf clubs. Arsenal, as always, have so often been at the heart of such a modern footballing phenomena.

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And the club is making hay early this summer, only adding to the deluded dreams of their fans (read: me). Arsene Wenger, in uncharacteristically convicted fashion, has made his move early, reportedly agreeing a deal to sign Sead Kolasinac when his current deal expires on July 1st, per Sky sources.

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It is undoubtedly an exciting and intriguing development, one that suggests that Wenger is preparing for a busy summer ahead. But, unfortunately, that is exactly what is required. After yet another underwhelming season in which many of the established, veteran members of the squad failed to perform on a consistent basis yet again, the Gunners are faced with the prospect of a Champions League-less season for the first time in Wenger’s tenure, and are in need of a rather substantial spruce up.

Kolasinac is an astute addition who addresses a position of need directly. However, he must only be the start of the summer’s recruitment process. Most evidently, a striker is a massive need. Ever since the departure of Robin van Persie, Arsenal have not boasted a dominating centre-forward, capable of firing 20 plus goals in a campaign and leading them to a title challenge.

While Olivier Giroud is a player with a unique skillset who, if tailored towards, can be a major asset to any Premier League team, he lacks the all-round tools – the pace, the mobility and the ability to beat a defender – and the consistent goal threat to ever fulfil the role of starring centre-forward. There are, though, other areas of the squad that will need to be improved.

A new, controlling central midfielder would be a beneificial addition to aid Santi Cazorla in his distributive task. A sharp, pacy, direct wide man would not go amiss, especially if Alexis Sanchez does leave the club with his contract very quickly winding down. And depth could be needed at full-back, centre-half and attacking midfield if key members leave as is very possible.

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Kolasinac is a very good addition, one that will certainly improve the squad and the starting XI. But if that is all the business that Wenger conducts, then it will be a mightily disappointing summer given the holes that still persist within the squad. Kolasinac must only be the start.