In a move which was never really a secret, Lukas Podolski has travelled to Milan to finalise a loan move to Inter, after Arsenal reportedly accepted an improved offer from the Italian giants.
But the question is should Arsenal have let him go? And why have we let him go?
The Lukas Podolski situation has always been a strange one for me. He is clearly a talented player, and allegedly Steve Bould came out and said that Podolski was the best finisher he has ever seen at the club – high praise considering Steve Bould was around when players like Alan Smith, Ian Wright, Nicolas Anelka and Dennis Bergkamp were at the club.
Podolski joined Arsenal from FC Koln in the summer of 2012 and was immediately thrust into the first team alongside new signings Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla – and made 33 appearances in the league alone. The season after he only played 20 Premier League games, and this season he only featured in 6. So clearly, there is an issue with him at Arsenal.
But what was it? He’s had limited playing time this season but did score a vital winner against Anderlecht in the Champions League and then scored a brace against Galatasaray in the same competition – and all the goals were clinical finishes. And for me, he is a player whose finishing is right up there with the very best – surely there’s a place for a player like him who can score when given the right service?
I’m sure most Arsenal fans are wondering if it was Arsene Wenger who had a problem with him or whether the system we used was just not suited to Podolski’s game. Olivier Giroud is obviously the preferred striker and with Alexis Sanchez in sensational form and Danny Welbeck willing to run for the team, I suppose Podolski was always going to be left on the sidelines. What is strange to me however is that during Giroud’s injury spell, Podolski had something to offer. Podolski has a hammer shot but when played wide on the left his delivery is excellent – the assists he has provided over the last couple of seasons for Giroud alone were top drawer.
Also, there are times when Arsenal lack a Plan B or just need to mix things up a little. Podolski (if used right) would be perfect for that but was never used. For a player of his ability, I find it strange that he hasn’t featured more this season. You don’t just turn into a poor player overnight and when you have seen Podolski play, he’s scored goals.
There’s no doubt that Lukas will be happier at Inter Milan where I am sure he will get much more playing time, but my regret is that we didn’t use him to his full potential – and for me he is someone that could definitely help the current Arsenal team.
But what do you think? Should Arsenal have kept Lukas Podolski at the club? Cast your vote below and leave your thoughts in the comments section!
Can you have a third choice, i.e. “would you pefer to leave the decisions to professioanls rather than some amateur with a an amateur opinion?”
Can you add a 4th choice, called “Mike is a massive bell end?” Cheers.
Or perhaps we should have a poll on which nursery school Rajiv attends given his itellectual capabailities clearly indicate a pre-school level of intelligence……….
Good he is going. Good for him. He will atleast get playing time. He got very less playing time.
Our competitors strengthen.
We get weaker.
Then Wenger will bemoan the “appalling injury list” having forgotten he has depleted the squad further by sending them out on loan.
And not signing any players of worth while he had the opportunity.
And outsiders cannot figure out why so many Arsenal fans want Wenger out.
The man is a clueless buffoon…
you are a fool
he is the best player
Wenger has totally lost the plot.
Seems that being a World Cup winner counts for nothing positive in the grand ego of AW.
You wonder sometimes about whether we’re watching the same game. Podolski lacked pace and power. How does he fit in to our pattern of play. At best an impact sub. But not for 100k per week. Bye bye
I loved Poldi. Lay the ball off on a plate or feed it to him in a scramble and more often than not he’d smash it home. Great smile too.
BUT – he wasn’t mobile enough, nor able to find team-mates often enough to make him a true asset to the team. A good finisher – of course. But we needed someone who can get more involved in the overall play and who could last 90 mins.
Letting him (and possibly) Sanogo go makes me think another striker could be coming in? Cavani anyone?
Since Wenger does not rate him, better to part ways ASAP.
Happy for Poldi, he will get enough playing time under Mancini.
On the other hand, let’s see how Wenger “improves” our squad and fight for our top 4 trophy.