Arsenal: Sead Kolasinac on Sol Campbell’s level of business

With Arsenal’s formal announcement of the arrival of Sead Kolasinac, we have managed a Sol-Campbell-like level of business.

It would not be a proper Arsenal transfer if at least half of the fan base wasn’t impressed. There are already people out there complaining about the arrival of Sead Kolasinac and it is utterly baffling.

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The Gunners formally announced the Bosian’s July arrival and with it, we have seen a brilliant piece of business. Absolutely. Brilliant. This is the best business you will see all summer. It is also business on the same level as when Sol Campbell joined from our dear North London rivals.

Campbell arrived on a free from Tottenham 2001 in what remains as one of the greatest pieces of transfer business ever. Arsene Wenger and David Dein tag-teamed this move to lure Campbell away from the team where he was looking at a contract to become their highest paid player.

He traded that for Champions League football at Arsenal.

I’m here to tell you that what Wenger has done with Sead Kolasinac is just as impressive. Time will tell what he can make of himself now that the deal is done, but the initial move is something to brag about.

Kolasinac had spent six years growing up at Schalke. This was his huge breakout year and with his contract running up, Wenger identified him as the perfect solution to our left back problem.

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This left back problem had led to strong ties to Ricardo Rodriguez and looser ties to David Alaba. The former would have cost Wenger about £20m+ and the latter is revered as one of the best offensive fullbacks in the league, likely costing around £50m+.

Sead Kolasinac beat both of those stalwarts to the Bundesliga team of the year. And he cost the Gunners absolutely nothing. He locked into a five-year deal and according to Arsene Wenger (and the highlight reels), this guy has everything you need to be successful in the Premier League.

And all of this business was done with the knowledge that the Gunners do not have Champions League football. The very thing that won Sol Campbell over from his former home was not a factor for Kolasinac. It was just pure, brilliant negotiating tactics.

Kolasinac has always had a solid trajectory, but this year was a breakout year and there were plenty of teams pursuing him, yet nothing came close to getting in the way of getting the deal done to bring him to Arsenal. There was rarely a pip about any other team nearing a deal.

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If you aren’t impressed by this business, then there is simply no pleasing you.