Arsenal: Mid-Season player rankings

2. Sead Kolasinac

Free signings are easily derivable. They are often players who lack the profile of what fans dream of; they, by nature, do not command a fee, which the average punter often, mistakenly, equates with quality; they can be overlooked as mere complementary pieces, especially if their position is not an attacking one. They are rarely the apple of one’s eye. And yet, if researched and evaluated accurately, they can be truly invaluable.

That is quickly becoming the case with Arsenal and Sead Kolasinac. The Bosnian, replacing Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Kieran Gibbs as Wenger’s first-choice wing-back alongside Hector Bellerin, has nothing short of superb, bombarding his way up and down the left flank with great power and authority, tremendous athleticism and strength, and a surprising element of finesse and quality, particularly when in and around the penalty area.

He has already scored two goals — both lashed efforts that were the ignition to a second-half Arsenal comeback from 1-0 down –, has assisted a further three, al coming in the Premier League, and has also shown defensive acumen when forced the other way. Kolasinac might well be the bargain of the summer. Time will tell. But he has already been one of Arsenal’s very best performers this year.

(Andy: 2nd; Josh: 2nd)