Young Guns Blog: Revealed – the midfielder Arsenal MUST sign this summer

I have to admit, when the news came through that Arsenal were signing Kim Kallstrom, I was more than a little underwhelmed.

My memories of the midfielder were of his pomp at Lyon, as well as several star performances for me on well-known video games. Both, however, were many years ago.

Arsene Wenger tried to claim after completing the loan deal that took the 31-year-old to the Emirates that he had been left with no choice. Time had ran out, options had ran out - and Kallstrom was all that was left in the bargain bin at the end of the transfer window.

It didn't help that he arrived injured, with the prognosis then that his back problem could be serious. He looked every bit a waste of time and wages.

But after Kallstrom's first start against West Ham on Wednesday night, I say he's already done enough to warrant a longer stay in north London.

He was classy and composed against the Hammers, and is excellent on the ball. After years of Denilson and co lining up for the Gunners, he is a welcome change. By all accounts, Spartak Moscow will let him go for free in the summer and Arsenal could do a lot worse than snap him up.

No fee, he'd likely accept lower wages to stay and he brings an awful lot of experience. That's got to be worth keeping hold of as we look to build moving forward.

His effectiveness was no better demonstrated than during the FA Cup semi-final against Wigan. He came on late into the game, kept the ball well and then helped calm his team-mates before the penalty shoot-out.

The Swede led by example by dispatching an effort himself and, with the injury bug hitting Arsenal hard again, it was nice to look down the squad list and find a dependable pair of hands. Or feet, as the case may be.

Sign him up, Arsene!