[Shaun]

Our first transfer of the summer is already confirmed, and it's a freebie. From the Telegraph's Jeremy Wilson:

Arsenal have already provisionally agreed their first summer signing – the Schalke left-back Sead Kolasinac – but manager Arsène Wenger has warned against wholesale changes this summer.

An agreement over a four-year deal for Kolasinac, who is a 23-year-old free agent, underlines how Wenger has been continuing to work on plans beyond the end of his contract even if final decisions on his future have not been made. Wenger wants to stay but that will still depend on reaching some sort of understanding over some structural off-field changes that Arsenal directors plan to implement.

The arrival in July of Kolasinac, an attacking full-back, clearly suggests that Nacho Monreal or Kieran Gibbs – and perhaps both – will leave this summer, and also that Wenger may well continue next season with wing-backs and three central defenders. The new system has certainly suited his existing attacking full-backs, while also providing a defensive stability that has helped the central midfield, notably Aaron Ramsey.

Wenger does not want to increase his overall squad numbers even if Arsenal do have the extra demands of the Europa League and believes that he will again be faced with a shortage of real quality at the right price. “We have a very big squad at the moment that is already difficult enough to manage,” he said. “A bigger squad is impossible. If we finish outside the top four, it will maybe be down to one point. One point would be difficult to swallow but that should not as well change the judgment on the quality of the team to a way where you think you have absolutely to change everything.

"It will mean just keep the same focus to try to strengthen the squad. We know where it has to be and that’s what the club will have to do.

“We lacked defensive stability in some important games this season, and we had to completely rethink the system. I had to make some changes and now we look more stable at the moment.

“To buy doesn’t necessarily mean success. There is a shortage of top level players. There are some big teams in Europe who have big players but they do not need to sell them. You look and we are certainly the richest league in Europe, but there are still some top level players who play in other leagues. There is more money available than good players.”

Wenger remains adamant that finishing outside the top four would not affect the club’s summer planning or a decision on his own future. “It will not have any influence on the way the club will be led and how we will behave on the transfer market,” he said.

I'd imagine we'll keep Monreal and loan Gibbs out, since we're reluctant to fully sell English players... but with the new formation and tinkering this is quite exciting since Monreal's flourishing these past 2 seasons with new roles and hopefully competition for places can enhance that.

As is mandatory for all Arsenal signings, he's a handsome bugger.



We'll pretend Gabriel Paulista didn't sign