OT: Podolski to join Arsenal this summer

Submitted by Huss on

http://espn.go.com/sports/soccer/story/_/id/7871851/cologne-lukas-podol…

Figured I'd post a little soccer snack, since I noticed a fair amount of fans in previous threads in recent weeks.  I said in an earlier thread that Arsenal(Whom, admittedly, I root for first and foremost) was destined for greatness in the Premier League next season, what with the return of All-world youngster Jack Wilshere amongst my reasons for believing so.

Podolski is a big-name, and at just 26, he's already a proven international commodity with 95 caps for Germany to date.  Moreso, he's a bigtime performer at the highest levels, having scored 43 goals already for Germany.  He outplayed Ronaldo and Messi as a youngster in the 06 World Cup, excelled at Euro 08, and has generally never disappointed at any major competition.  He now gets to play with RVP and a host of other stalwarts at Arsenal now, and whether he lies in behind RVP or shares the wing with Gervinho, methinks he's going to up his scoring pace to a level he wasn't quite used to at FC Koln. 

I'm a fan of Arsene Wegner because he always turns a profit and still performs well against other financial giants, and this is a smart move that I think will help them immenesely in the EPL next year.  What are your thoughts?

Volverine

April 30th, 2012 at 2:38 PM ^

Ooh to

Ooh to be

Ooh to be a 

GOONER!

This is a great signing. I was talking to some friends on facebook, and I said that if Arsenal can use RVP-Podolski similar to how Germany puts out Klose-Podolski, there will be SO many goals! 

profitgoblue

April 30th, 2012 at 2:48 PM ^

I'm not a fan of Gervinho.  Has he been playing poorly this season?  I ask because every time I watch Arsenal he seems non-existent.  But it could be that I haven't been paying that close of attention.  I can't take my eyes off of dreamy RVP.

/not gay

(P.S.  There was an honest question embedded in this message.)

 

 

FGB

April 30th, 2012 at 4:37 PM ^

He's been fine, but not impactful.  He was better at the start of the season, taking on defenders and creating in the box, and at the time it seemed like the finishing would come.

Then, if you watched the African Cup of Nations championship game, you saw him DECLINE TO TAKE A PENALTY!  Ivory Coast took 7 or 8 penalties, he ducked out of the first 5, then when they needed someone, he shook his head.  Ridiculous.

Anyway, the point is it's clear that he's not a scorer, he's not a finisher, and that part of his game doesn't exist, so he's basically early-stage Theo but a little slower with a little more on-the-ball skill (Theo has since become a solid though not exceptional scorer).  I don't think he has a long term place if the squad is actually upgraded.

 

HopeInHoke

April 30th, 2012 at 2:51 PM ^

I'm real excited as a fellow Arsenal fan!

I actually root for Poland so I am still bummer both Podolski and Klose play for Germany while being born in Poland...

Should make the attacking unit even more dangerous- think he should match up well with RVP!!

Zvornik Bosna

April 30th, 2012 at 3:12 PM ^

I don't think he'll be as successfull as some here think but I can see why Arsenal fans are optimistic. I think he'll be a nice addition however, his knock has always been that he can't play well at the club level, that is why he is at  1. FC Köln. He didn't perform well at all while he had his chance at Bayern. 

M.I.Sicks

April 30th, 2012 at 3:18 PM ^

This guy is such an enigma, great international player, was a huge bust at Bayern. I think the Premier League will eat him alive. Wenger is such a tightwad when it comes to transfers.

ak47

April 30th, 2012 at 4:20 PM ^

Yeah podolski is an excuse of a big name, this is just wenger trying to keep fans happy wihtout doing what actually needs to be done to be a real challenger.  This year when man u smashed arsenal (I know not arsenals best team) the average age of man u was actually younger than arsenal, wengers plan isn't working and podolski isn't going to change that. Hope i'm wrong though.

swan flu

April 30th, 2012 at 4:59 PM ^

... cause gee... it's a damn shame Arsenal couldn't bring in Edin Dzeko, Luis Suarez, Andy Carrol, Fernando Torres, David Luiz, Diego Forlan, Kaka, or any of the other huge transfer names when they were on the market. (My point is big name signings pan out less than half the time)

 

I love this move by Arsenal.  It's a big enough name to appease some of the star-chasing Arsenal fans, but it's a smart move. Podolski is not going to break the bank and you know what you're getting with him.

BrownJuggernaut

April 30th, 2012 at 4:54 PM ^

Always been a fan of his game and glad that Arsene bought him. If Arsenal can keep RVP and add another player like M'Vila, yeah I'll buy the compete for the title talk. Hopefully, Wilshere can stay healthy as well. It'll be tough with Song and Gervinho set to go to the ACN next year.

BrownJuggernaut

April 30th, 2012 at 5:39 PM ^

I would guess that if Arsenal brings in another holding midfielder (they've been linked with M'Vila and Javi Martinez), it's because Song might miss the month of January due to the Africa Cup of Nations (that's going to suck!). From the limited action I've seen of M'Vila (the England friendly), I liken him more to Arteta than Song. More deep in the midfield, can make tackles, but isn't nearly as physically dominant as Song is. Getting WIlshere will be huge, but I still think there is a need for another player in the midfield. Ultimately, while Wilshere can play in the holding role, but he's best further up the pitch.

----------------------Shez-------------------

Sagna-Koscielny-Vermaelen-Gibbs

-------------Song-------Arteta-------------

------------------Wilshere------------------

Walcott------------RVP--------Podolski

You have Ox and Gervinho who can play on either side (you can move Podolski in the middle if Van Persie needs a spell). You have Rosicky and Ramsey who can play in the attacking midfield role (you can drop Wilshere back if necessary). Whoever they bring in at holding/defensive midfielder can cover for either Song or Arteta. You have some young players who might start seeing some time like Lansbury and Frimpong (though Frimpong might be due for another loan spell). The defensive pieces are seemingly already there, though we've been linked with Vertonghen. 

It'll be interesting to see what else Wenger does.

swan flu

April 30th, 2012 at 6:22 PM ^

While I see your point about the upside of M'Vila and rescind my previous oppinion, I think Wenger is going to try his damndest to have Wilshere and Ramsey play together in the midfield. And Ramsey has shown a complete inability to play the role of holding midfield, so I see Wilshere playing that role... which I don't think is a negative.  He was Arsenal's best threat agaist Barcelona last year, and he was playing that role at the time.

Rabbit21

April 30th, 2012 at 5:04 PM ^

Asa Tottenham fan this news makes me sad, I think he'll do very well paired with RVP.  Nice move by the skeleton(even if it makes my hands hurt just writing that).