The purchase of Lukas Podolski before the end of the current season marks a huge change in attitude from Arsene Wenger and perhaps is a warning shot to the rest of the Premier League that the Gunners intend to fire next season.
Most Gooners are still recovering from Monday’s announcement that the German striker will be lining up in the red and white next season. Not because we believed it wouldn’t happen but because we have spent big money on a proven talent AND signed him before everyone nipped off on their summer holidays.
But as well as the goals and experience the 26-year-old will bring, his signature is a bold statement to the rest of the Premier League and to a captain who, while adored by his people, is not yet in a position to commit his future to his kingdom.
There can be no doubt that confirming Podolski now is a huge nudge to Robin Van Persie that the club wants to win things and can still attract some of Europe’s biggest names. Follow that up with the rumoured capture of Jan Vertonghen from Ajax and it will be a case of ‘over to you Robin’.
Proven Pedigree
Yes Podolski didn’t exactly tear record books up when he was at Bayern Munich, 26 goals in 106 games is hardly Golden Boot form, but his record for Germany (43 goals in 95 internationals) puts him joint-sixth on the country’s all-time list.
Any football fan will tell you that Germany have had some pretty good strikers down the years so to be sixth with his best years in front of him means Arsenal may have just picked up a bargain.
It’s what he has done for a struggling FC Cologne team this year which is worth mentioning, while his side struggle to avoid the drop from the Bundesliga, Podolski has netted 18 times – his best ever in the top flight.
Just as Arsenal have relied on Van Persie this term, Cologne are leaning on Lukas for their survival.
Van Persie
Which brings us on to the skipper, Captain Fantastic and the PFA and Football Writers Player of the Year. Arsenal’s top goal scorers list in this year in the Premier League alone reads Van Persie 28 and then a yawning chasm to Theo Walcott on eight. Clearly Poldolski’s signature is designed to lighten the load and create a bit of competition up front.
But the timing of his signing is crucial, a clear nudge from Le Boss that yes he is bringing in a couple of well-known names so ‘jolly well sign the contract offer you have had off us old boy’. The skipper’s apparent anger at Oxlade-Chamberlain being taken off against Manchester United at the Emirates earlier this season bore all the hallmarks of an upset captain.
Who knows what happened, my guess is that RVP said bring in some MVP’s otherwise I will take my ball and go off somewhere else, cue a text to Cesc......
In some ways Wenger has called his bluff and completed a deal in advance of the European Championships, which is sure to get Robin thinking all the right things.
Premier League
Podolski is powerful, strong and can be in the right place at the right time, ideal for the demands of the Premier League. His capture begins to show a rather strong spine to a previously brittle Arsenal team which could line up next season with a quality goalkeeper, two smart centre half’s, a talented and experienced midfield and two proven strikers up front.
Wojciech Szczesny continues to be a success on the Scrabble board as well as between the sticks while the emergence of Koscielny along Thomas Vermaelen this term has been one big tick for Le Boss.
Meanwhile the midfield next season could see a refreshed and hungry Jack Wilshere alongside, for me, the signing of the season in Mikel Arteta.
And of course up front could be the Polish-born German Podolski alongside super skipper RVP, a front-line that if fires will score when it wants.
When was the last time Gooners could say all that about an Arsenal team? I reckon it was 2003/4 and if memory serves me correctly, we didn’t have a bad season did we?
Money, Money, Money?
Is this the start of a whopping great spending spree by Monsieur Wenger? Of course not, surely after 15 years we know him by now! It won’t be chucking money away at anyone (aka ‘Doing a Man City’)
But gaps will be filled, areas will be strengthened and together with a Bould number two (hint, hint) there should be a fresh voice alongside Le Boss for the new term.
And who knows, come August 18/19 we could have a double Player of the Year and the leading scorer of the Euro 2012 on our books.
Come May 2013, the brave new era might even have unlocked the Emirates trophy cabinet for the very first time...
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Comments
As a signing of intent, sure it is! Podolski is a proven international striker, he has done it again and again at the top level, having so many goals for Germany proves so!
Completing the signing so early, and before the Euros is exactly what needed to be done, Arsenal has always been a big European club, but doubts had been cast over our ability to compete for titles. This is the sort of signing that was required to show we are here to compete!
All others can go, bt I still want bentder or wenger gets flecter from wovles. He can acts as a super sub.
If we sign Vertonghen, a hugely understated player, (who's also fully capable of deputising at CDM and LB) then we'll be taking big steps, not only in terms of the starting XI but also the squad.