Lukas Podolski: A Look At Arsenal's German Forward

It appears that reports of Lukas Podolski's impending exit from Arsenal have been greatly exaggerated.

Depending on who you talk to, the reason for Podolski not getting as many games as you'd expect is a result of a rift with manager Arsene Wenger, or because when Santi Cazorla plays on the left wing the balance of the team is better.

Wenger is keen to assert that it is a result of the latter, and for the majority of their excellent late season run-in at the end of the last campaign, Cazorla was deployed on the left hand side of Arsenal's formation as they were able to snatch the final Champions League place from right under Tottenham's nose.

So Podolski, who had a pretty decent first season in England, has found himself the subject of recent speculation over whether or not he will move back to Germany because of the lack of playing time. Schalke have apparently sounded their interest and Poldolski has been quoted as saying that he would always like to return to his native county at some point in his career.

The striker's fine brace against Fulham yesterday was a timely reminder, then, that he has a big part to play for the Gunners this season. Conveniently, after the game Wenger disclosed that there has been no interest in the German, who has a bazooka for a left foot.

And with his squad already threadbare Wenger cannot afford to lose any more players. Anyway, here is the best example that cracking left foot of his against Montpellier in the Champions League last season.

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