Lukas Podolski

[Barriecuda]

He didn't look convincing in his first appearance at CF early in the season; while I think that's a poor basis to judge, I'm also not sure he is best suited to the no. 9 role in our current system. Especially with our tendency to play from wide and cross, God knows we have enough trouble getting a proper target man on the ball in those positions, let alone Poldi - a player who's best abilities are from the ground.

[MM99]

It's no surprise that every time he's played in the central position or moved there during a game that he has ended up scoring. His shooting and finishing is wasted on the wing.

[northbank123]

He didn't look convincing in his first appearance at CF early in the season; while I think that's a poor basis to judge, I'm also not sure he is best suited to the no. 9 role in our current system. Especially with our tendency to play from wide and cross, God knows we have enough trouble getting a proper target man on the ball in those positions, let alone Poldi - a player who's best abilities are from the ground.

I don't think he is best suited to it in that it will get the best out of his abilities, but he is better suited to it than anybody else. The only realistic alternatives are Giroud and Walcott, and Giroud so far has shown almost zero indication that he's any sort of goal threat unless the ball is crossed in to him.

[Barriecuda]

He didn't look convincing in his first appearance at CF early in the season; while I think that's a poor basis to judge, I'm also not sure he is best suited to the no. 9 role in our current system. Especially with our tendency to play from wide and cross, God knows we have enough trouble getting a proper target man on the ball in those positions, let alone Poldi - a player who's best abilities are from the ground.

I don't think he is best suited to it in that it will get the best out of his abilities, but he is better suited to it than anybody else. The only realistic alternatives are Giroud and Walcott, and Giroud so far has shown almost zero indication that he's any sort of goal threat unless the ball is crossed in to him.

I think Giroud has looked pretty good so far. He is definitely missing the clinical finish with 1v1 but he puts himself in the right areas, is willing to get dirty and attacks every ball that presents itself as an opportunity. He needs some work but he has the right potential and mindset. And his scoring record in Ligue 1 shows that there is ability there, something I'm not convinced of with Gervinho (who admittedly can put himself in the right areas as well).

Podolski is a different beast. Definitely the better finisher on the ground, but doesn't frequently get himself in the right places. I would like to see him at centre forward for a couple more games before passing judgement, I just haven't seen the promise just yet. However, the caveat is that if he plays at CF, he needs proper players on his two sides - i.e. not Ramsey and/or Gervinho. Only then will we really effectively see how good he is in the centre. One also has to wonder if he would be better suited as a second striker in a more classic 4-4-2 setup.

We got Giroud and Podolski to replace RVP. However we have to have them both on the pitch simultaneously to replace the abilities that Robin had entirely Great players but just goes to show you how fortunate we were to have RVP, especially in the last couple seasons.

Lastly: As I touched on, the centre forward needs the right players on the sides. There's no point judging any of these players' abilities as a central striker if we put poor players around them on the sides. The attacking triumvirate of forward players in a 4-3-3 is only effective if those three players interchange and work well together - Barcelona is a good example, as was Napoli when they had Cavani/Hamsik/Lavezzi. We need to develop chemistry amongst our attacking players and we also badly need a better left-wing-forward; Gervinho is awful overall, and both Ox and Walcott are naturally right-sided players. Podolski is the only suitable LWF we have as far as I'm concerned, further making me disinclined to see him in the centre.

[DarylAFC]

Heaven forbid Wenger plays a 4-4-2 with Giroud and Podolski.

[Steve_I]

We signed Podolski as a replacement tor RVP.

I never considered that.
Always thought of him as a replacement for Arshavin, who will soon depart.
Plays wide left often for Germany, but cuts in.

33 goals in 88 league games for Cologne is good, but not RvP like stats.

Giroud was Chamakh's replacement.

We have not yet signed a replacement for RvP.

this

[1989]

I heard Podolski and Jack are not on talking terms. Apparently Jack told him to "move you lazy *word censored*" at Bradford. Today I spotted Podolski putting a finger to his mouth at Jack as if to tell him to shut up. All's not well.

[markyp]

I heard Podolski and Jack are not on talking terms. Apparently Jack told him to "move you lazy *word censored*" at Bradford. Today I spotted Podolski putting a finger to his mouth at Jack as if to tell him to shut up. All's not well.

i saw that too,i wondered who Pod was directing that at,expect to see a batty/le saux type fight soon then.what happened to 'victory through harmony' ? as long as the balance sheets are harmonious the board including the nutty proffessor dont give a flying feck about our club on the pitch

[I Hate Hleb]

I heard Podolski and Jack are not on talking terms. Apparently Jack told him to "move you lazy *word censored*" at Bradford. Today I spotted Podolski putting a finger to his mouth at Jack as if to tell him to shut up. All's not well.

i saw that too,i wondered who Pod was directing that at,expect to see a batty/le saux type fight soon then.what happened to 'victory through harmony' ? as long as the balance sheets are harmonious the board including the nutty proffessor dont give a flying feck about our club on the pitch

Much as I love Jack, I know who my money would be on!!

[SteveO 35]

Heaven forbid Wenger plays a 4-4-2 with Giroud and Podolski.

What is this 4-4-2 that you speak of ?

Oh, the one that one us all the trophies in the first 8 years of his reign and which he abandoned in an attempt to win the Champions League?

[LDB]

Heaven forbid Wenger plays a 4-4-2 with Giroud and Podolski.

What is this 4-4-2 that you speak of ?

Oh, the one that one us all the trophies in the first 8 years of his reign and which he abandoned in an attempt to win the Champions League?

Absolutely, and these millionaire professional footballers shouldn't be expected to memorise two ways of playing.

[Wengerball]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... d-podolski

on Lukas Podolski…
It is bad news about Lukas Podolski as he will be out for eight to 10 weeks. His hamstring is much more damaged than we thought at the start. It is very disappointing and we have paid a very heavy price for that win [over Fenerbahce]. We have to be patient now.

Looks like the curse of the Arsenal medical staff has struck again

[Brady's left peg]

http://www.arsenal.com/news/news-archiv ... d-podolski

on Lukas Podolski…
It is bad news about Lukas Podolski as he will be out for eight to 10 weeks. His hamstring is much more damaged than we thought at the start. It is very disappointing and we have paid a very heavy price for that win [over Fenerbahce]. We have to be patient now.

Looks like the curse of the Arsenal medical staff has struck again

Of course that has got nothing to do with having a thread bare squad has it Wenger? If we had a bigger squad we could of rotated and protected the 3 goal lead we had and not only that, if we had a bigger squad the loss of Podolski would not be such a big issue especially as we expect shed loads of injuries anyway.

[Dan_85]

I like the way he says "we have to be patient now". Now isn't the time for patience you cretin, the transfer window shuts in 4 days! We've been patient for over 3 fucking months while you dithered, went on a jolly to the far east, lined your pockets with some punditry work.....

Sort this mess the fuck out!

[g88ner]

Of course that has got nothing to do with having a thread bare squad has it Wenger? If we had a bigger squad we could of rotated and protected the 3 goal lead we had and not only that, if we had a bigger squad the loss of Podolski would not be such a big issue especially as we expect shed loads of injuries anyway.

How big should our squad be exactly?

We have Podolski, Cazorla, Wilshere, Chamberlain, Theo and Rosicky for the 3 attacking midfield positions. That's not bad, and many people this summer didn't think a winger was a priority, so I'm not sure using Podolski's injury to vent your anger at the squad size is all that valid.

If the injury was to a striker (we only have Giroud) or a CM (we're desperate for a midfielder or 2) or at centre back, then you may have a point, but until the unfortunate (and long term) injuries to Chamberlain and Podolski, wide midfield wasn't looking too bad.

I also don't think he could have protected Podolski either. Why would he? he's not played that many games anyway, so was hardly desperate for a rest. It's just bad luck.

In any case, based on the media, another creative player appears to be a transfer target, so perhaps the injuries to Podolski and Ox will focus the mind, and we''ll get in a "top top quality" addition