Wenger pleased with Podolski

LONDON. — Arsene Wenger wants to keep Lukas Podolski at Arsenal after the Germany international was linked with a return to the Bundesliga.
Podolski joined Arsenal last summer from Cologne and he has scored 18 goals in 44 appearances in all competitions for the club. However, he was only a substitute for the Gunners’ opening two games of the season against Aston Villa in the Premier League and Fenerbahce in the Uefa Champions League play-off. His omission from Wenger’s starting line-up had prompted rumours that Schalke were interested in signing the 28-year-old on a season-long loan.

But, after Podolski marked his first start of the campaign by scoring twice in Saturday’s 3-1 win at Fulham, Wenger confirmed his intention to keep the forward.

Wenger also saluted Podolski after his brace helped the Gunners pick up their first English Premier League points of the season in a 3-1 win at Fulham.

While Olivier Giroud opened the scoring in the 14th minute, it was two brilliant finishes from the German forward either side of half-time that saw off Fulham, who could only respond with a consolation strike from substitute Darren Bent on his debut.

All the talk over the summer has been about Arsenal’s inability to attract new star names to the club, but with Giroud having scored three goals in his first three matches and Podolski coming into form, Wenger believes the best could still be to come from both players in their second seasons in north London.

“I’m pleased for Lukas because he did not always start recently, but more for the balance of the team than for his personal performance,” Wenger said.

“He has always a very high spirit and is a very important person in the team. Everybody loves Lukas in the squad and it’s important to keep him.

“When a player doesn’t play, he’s not happy, and recently he did not always start. But if you look at the goalscoring record of him and Giroud, it’s quite impressive.”

Coming on the back of Wednesday’s victory over Fenerbahce in the Champions League play-off round, Saturday’s result at Craven Cottage provided further relief for Wenger. — Sky Sports.