Wenger denies Arsenal deal with Kolasinac

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger has denied
reports that his transfer plans for next
season have already begun to take
shape.Arsene Wenger says Arsenal have not reached
agreements with any potential transfer targets,
including Schalke full-back Sead Kolasinac.
The Bosnia-Herzegovina international's contract
expires at the end of the season and he has been
heavily linked with the Gunners, as well as
Manchester City and AC Milan.
Wenger, however, insists reports claiming that a
deal has been agreed with the 23-year-old are
untrue.
"We can deny that story at the moment," the
Arsenal manager said ahead of Saturday's FA Cup
semi-final against Manchester City. "Nothing's
been concluded with anybody. I think it's important
we don't talk about transfers but about the semi-
final of the FA Cup."
Wenger also stressed that the uncertainty over his
own future is not distracting his squad, despite the
67-year-old having yet to announce his decision
over whether he will sign a new contract at
Emirates Stadium.
"I didn't tell anything to anybody. My commitment
is total and I'm only focused on Arsenal," he said.
"It doesn't play any part. It's a very important
game for me because it's the next game and an
opportunity to win a trophy. We are all fully
focused on that. My future is Sunday."
Arsenal bounced back from a 3-0 loss to Crystal
Palace with a hard-fought 2-1 victory away to
Middlesbrough in the Premier League on Monday.
Wenger admits that confidence is still low within
the squad but he insists that the players believe in
their chances of reaching the FA Cup final for the
third time in four years.
"What I expect when you go to the semi-
final is to get to the final" #AFCvMCFC
pic.twitter.com/eeaOUP597l
— Arsenal FC (@Arsenal) April 20, 2017
"I expect to go to the final," he said. "Somebody
told me I played 11 semi-finals in the FA Cup and
that means it's a great experience. I remember my
first one against Villa Park at Wolves [in 1998].
That's the day I realised how big the cup is. It's a
special experience.
"I think we are focused, highly motivated, maybe
not at the maximum of our confidence but it's a
good opportunity to show how much we want to go
to the final because it may be our only chance for a
trophy this season.
"They are a team who are very positive going
forward, they like to have the ball and take
initiative. We do as well. It was 50-50 on the
possession front in our last game. It could be very
intense, a very spectacular game once the fist goal
is scored. Let's hope we score first."
Wenger, who confirmed that Danny Welbeck (toe) is
a doubt and that Shkodran Mustafi (thigh) remains
sidelined, hinted that he could utilise the same
back-three system he deployed against Boro.
"It is an option, yes," he said. "It was to give us a
bit more defensive solidity because recently we've
conceded too many goals.
"I think the definition of a good football player is
that he's adaptable. If you're not adaptable, you're
not a top-level player.
"It's between two teams in the Premier League
who are very close to each other so we know we
absolutely have to be at our best."