Arsene Wenger warns Arsenal midfielder Krystian Bielik is a signing for the future

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has warned against expecting too much too soon from new signing Krystian Bielik although he admitted the 17-year-old is a "huge talent" for the future.

The north London side confirmed the arrival of the Polish midfielder on Wednesday 21 January for a reported fee of around £2.5m to become the club's first signing of the winter transfer window.

Having only made his professional debut last August, the Under-17 Poland international was initially expected to join the Gunners' Under-21 side before moving to Wenger's first-team squad should he impress.

However, the French boss revealed Bielik will move straight into the first team in a matter of weeks. He is expected to back-up Francis Coquelin and Mathieu Flamini, while also covering for the injured Mikel Arteta.

Nevertheless, Wenger has sent a warning regarding his imminent impact in the Premier League.

"I would say, considering his age, he's more one for the future," the manager told Arsenal Player.

"But let's be open-minded and let [him] surprise us. The first signs that we see are very positive in training."

Bielik is already training under Wenger while in November, he had spent time on trial at the club's London Colney training ground.

But the starlet will not play in the FA Cup fourth-round tie against Brighton on Sunday 25 January as having not played since December due to the winter break in Poland, Wenger confirmed he will not be ready for action for at least three weeks.

He said: "Because they had the winter break in Poland, we are just at the starting point of building him up fitness-wise. He's a young boy and he has a huge talent."

Meanwhile, Wenger is still working to secure the club's second signing of the January transfer window with Villarreal centre-back Gabriel Paulista.

While the French boss revealed on Thursday 22 January there was a "50-50" chance to complete the deal, Villarreal manager Marcelino Garcia Toral has admitted "everything indicates" the centre-back will move to the Emirates Stadium.