Arsene Wenger has hailed the physical prowess of Sead Kolasinac, saying he’s possibly the strongest player he’s ever worked with and that strength can lift both the team and the crowd.
In his two senior appearances thus far, the Community Shield and last Friday’s 4-3 win over Leicester, the Bosnian international has been impressive and he’ll look to carry that on today against Stoke.
Although he was signed as a left-sided wing-back, he’s played in the back three, but is expected to move across to the left as Arsenal welcome back Per Mertesacker and Shkodran Mustafi.
Asked how the 24 old measures up in terms of physique to other players he’s managed, Wenger said, “Maybe he is the strongest, he is naturally strong.
“He uses quite well the strength of his body without violence and when he intervenes it doesn’t look to be a foul, he just uses his body strength. It is an important quality to help adapt to the Premier League.”
“There is something there and you feel that from the crowd. The determined attitude gets to the crowd and the crowd responds to that, and that gives a swing to the team, you can see that with him and when he intervenes he provokes happiness.”
And it’s not just his defensive qualities that caught Wenger’s eye. Describing his free transfer arrival as a ‘nice bargain’, he also talked about what he could bring to the attacking side of our game.
He has the capacity to repeat runs,” he said, “and we noticed when we watched him play that he is quite dangerous in the final third.
“He already has some assists since he came here, so overall maybe he is not a glamorous dribbler but the quality of his runs is very efficient.”
Can’t think of many to challenge him! Maybe Sol Campbell.
Anyway, so glad we got him he’s an incredible signing.
Hope the Orcs pisses him off so we see the Hulk smash. Picking up a random Stoke player by the ankle and swinging him into the ground repeatedly!
The 15 match ban would be worth it, and the YouTube highlights glorious!
Julio “The Beast” Baptista comes to mind. Always think of that time he destroyed the Mugsmashers, one of our better loans over the years.
Then a hulk smashing Mark Hughes’ face while walking off…..
Wenger said at the time kolo toure was the strongest player he’d ever encountered.
Great photo! Chel$i skum left for dead.
Puny Orcs
Random? Jesé will be on the pitch. Just sayin…
Refreshing to see a beast like this in the side given our traditional preference for smaller technical players. Have to give Wenger some credit, a great signing.
Who are you and what have you done with the real Tobin?
Quality signing, agreed
Look forward to seeing “The Tank” in action this season, flinging opponents to the floor, robbing them of the ball and (as Bloggs said in Arsecast) smashing Deli Ali to pieces.
I just wish we had kept Perez, similar type, determined fighter never say die retrieving the impossible
TANK
“when he intervenes he provokes happiness”. so true. Like shepherding Marez 40 yards backwards until he runs out of pitch. Glorious.
Santi better stay away from the tank in training. In fact Wenger should put up a sign for all the players… “BEWARE….DO NOT MAKE HULK ANGRY”
“When he intervenes he provokes happiness,” spot on!
That is such an AW sentence.
Love his carryover language traits….they are somehow clearer, sometimes.
I think the ‘don’t have to be a great dribbler, to make intelligent and impactful runs’ bit, is a hint at Theo.
Big strong fella, he might be very important in our evolution this season. With Sanchez floating on the left, opposition defenders will get no joy along that flank.
Wenger seems to love this guy. Must say he’s starting to win me over. Imagine if we sign Van Dijk and return to a back 4.. Bellerin – Kos/Mustafi – Van Dijk – Kolasinac. What a back 4.
Van Dijk is a good player but he is not a clear improvement on Kos and Mustafi so I don’t think he would improve us really in a back 4. He could improve us massively in a back 3 together with Kos and Mustafi though
If Trez says it will, it will. He knows. He told us lacazette was not as good as Morata or Lukaku and he was lightweight ?
How did your boy Lacazette perform yesterday?? Bring proof showing where I said he was lightweight you liar
Giroud would have to be right up there, so happy he looks to be staying as we’re definitely better with him.
We’ve added a good bit of size, athleticism and physicality to the squad.
Ox is now brilliant in the 50/50’s.
Hopefully we get Manolas and Draxler before the end of the window.
This is the wenger team template during highbury times…strong fast physical and nasty…… Orcs are no match against arsenal from that era. Buffet Royale anyone?
Agree Giroud staying is massive for us. Would prefer we added a CM though as we lack quality there but with Wilshere apparently staying we might prefer someone like Draxler
From Center back he ends up in the 6 yard box within no time. Not many cb’s do that because everybody wants to hold position. Sead needs to be careful when he is marching forward especially when playing in the back 3. Great addition that to in this market.
Does anybody have his homemade videos ?
Just wanted to say that yesterday’s Arsecast was fantastic. The chat with Philippe Auclair was brilliant and so informative. Perhaps more importantly I thought Blogs’ words about Barcelona were heartfelt and very touching. You apologised as you weren’t sure it was the right place to talk about it. I think I speak for many when I say that the apology was totally unnecessary. Many if not all if us know your connection to Barcelona and we like your personal touch in your blogs and podcasts, therefore of course it was right for you to talk about it. Your words were… Read more »
Thank you
He’s probably one of the strongest in the league. Has a tank of a stamina. Should be fine @ the 365 stadium today . Want him to ‘Stoke’ a couple of em defenders.
He can lift the team AND THE CROWD!! OH MY GOD.
Chelski & Lei agree. Hope he razes Peter Crouch to the ground. Or better still, go into Brock Lesnar mode against Charlie Adams and repeatedly suplex him.Lets slay some orcs!! COYG!!
As much as I love the signing, I can’t help but wonder why it took Wenger so long to sign somebody with natural power and strength like Sead.
We’ve been crying out for it. Literally. Hopefully it convinces him to get more players like him, especially at CB and CM. Like when we used to win the league.
The problem would be finding someone with his strengths that can also play football AND isn’t going to be an immediate red card magnet (as any robust players become when they put on our shirt).
There have been plenty that could get away with it for other teams but we always get the shitty end of the stick when it comes to referees…
Too bad we won’t get to see him against Costa.
He seems to play under very good control so surely won’t have a card problem as Xhaka has had.
Holding kept Costa in line for the FA Cup.
a bit surprised wenger said he’s maybe not a glamorous dribbler. i think his ball control is actually very good. and let’s not forget ‘that’ spin move…
https://streamable.com/bmw4u
glamorous!
Hope he smashes Shawcross…
Sead smash puny orcs!
The Incredible Hulk
He’s strongest as a wingback or fullback IMO.
left of back 3 should be an emergency position which he can play but we need to leverage on his strengths going forward.