Arsene Wenger hailed the “decisive” contribution of Sead Kolasinac in today’s 2-1 win over Swansea but his heroics may have come at a cost for Arsenal.
Kolasinac scored one and then provided the other for Aaron Ramsey as Arsenal overturned a half-time deficit brought on by Sam Clucas’ goal.
A free signing from Schalke, Kolasinac has already proven himself to be an astute investment and now has provided more goals and assists at the Emirates (five) than even his fellow summer signing Alexandre Lacazette (four).
The ‘Bosnian Hulk’ has already become a firm fans’ favourite in north London, not least because his physicality makes him stand out somewhat amid Wenger’s cast of diminutive ball-players.
Indeed it was put to Wenger that Kolasinac could give heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua a run for his money, but the Arsenal manager will be more concerned as to whether the wing-back will be able to step into the ring at Manchester City in eight days’ time after suffering a recurrence of a hip injury.
“Kolasinac was decisive today because he scored and made an assist,” Wenger said. “We had a bit more space on the left and wanted to take advantage of that in the second half. They blocked Hector with Clucas on our right side so for us it was important to change quickly on the left and create some space for Kolasinac.
“Since he has arrived he has convinced everybody that he is a good signing. When you see the quality of his performance again today you see there are still some good things to find there.
“He has naturally the qualities that suit first his position as a wing-back – he defends more offensively – and secondly he has the absolute needed body in his game for the Premier League.”
Despite his physical fitness he was unable to shake off the hip injury that he had carried into the match and was substituted for Rob Holding with 12 minutes left to play at the Emirates.
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Wenger admitted that he could not be sure that Kolasinac would make next Sunday’s trip to Manchester, where a defeat would leave Arsenal 12 points adrift of Pep Guardiola’s league leaders.
“He had that already before but he came back today. It’s a tight muscle in his hip. How long will he be out? I don’t know; we hope to get him fit for next Sunday.
“He had that before and we managed to get him available.
“It came back a bit too much so I thought there’s no need to take a gamble. He wanted to come off. I haven’t spoken to him since.”