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LONDON -- Arsene Wenger hailed an "outstanding" Sead Kolasinac after the signing scored in Sunday's Community Shield victory, and said the defender's physicality will make him a perfect fit for the Premier League. Kolasinac met a free kick from Granit Xhaka to head in Arsenal's equaliser in the second half at Wembley, before the Gunners won a penalty shootout 4-1 to lift the preseason trophy for the third time in four years. It was Kolasinac's first goal for the Gunners after joining on a free transfer this summer, and came despite playing in a back three after he replaced the injured Per Mertesacker in the first half. Wenger said he was hesitant to start Kolasinac at Wembley so soon in his Arsenal career, but predicted that the Bosnia-Hercegovina international will fit right into English football. "I think he was outstanding today," Wenger said. "He is physically very strong, naturally. You have players who were pumped up in the gym and players who were born strong. And he's the second part. ... In the Premiership power plays a part. But it's not only that, I bought him as well for his attitude. "I believe the modern game doesn't tolerate as many weaknesses anymore as it did 20 years ago. And it's always a combination of talent and attitude. He looks to me that he has good talent but as well a very strong and determined attitude, supported by a strong body." Mertesacker had to come off after taking an elbow to the head that opened up a deep gash in his forehead, but Wenger said he should be fine for next Friday's Premier League opener against Leicester. However, Mesut Ozil and Aaron Ramsey are both doubts for that game after sitting out Sunday's match. "Mesut got a kick on his ankle and is swollen. He couldn't play, he couldn't practice yesterday. Overall, we'll see, he has a little chance to play on Friday night," Wenger said. "Ramsey has a chance to play, but I think he will be short as well with a little calf problem." Arsenal went 1-0 behind when Victor Moses scored shortly after the re-start but equalised just after Pedro Rodriguez had been sent off for raking his studs across Mohamed Elneny's calf. The shootout victory then handed them a ninth straight victory at Wembley since 2014, and Wenger's seventh Community Shield win. It also avenged a 3-0 preseason loss to Chelsea in Beijing last month and handed Wenger's team a bit of momentum heading into the new campaign. "I'm very happy because we won a trophy that we wanted to win, and because I believe the quality of the game was very good, two teams who gave absolutely everything," Wenger said. "And overall the game was of great intensity and quality. "And even when we were 1-0 down we didn't panic, and kept control of the game and came back. So overall the performance is a continuation of what we did at the end of last season. ... We had some bad starts recently in the last four years in the first game of the Premiership. But we had the intensity in the games in our preparation that is needed to be ready. "So let's go into the Premiership now with the same discipline, the same spirit and see where we can go." Wenger also confirmed that he expects several players to leave the club before the end of the transfer window, with a squad of 33 listed on the back of Sunday's match programme. "To be honest, the number is too high. We'll let some players go," he said. "Because too much competition for places is detrimental. Not enough competition for places is detrimental as well. But I agree with you that 33 is too high."
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