Arsenal will say nothing until it's a done deal.I still can't understand how we can buy a player when the transfer window isn't open.
Thats what I am saying. They say nothing till deal done. But if the deal is prearranged and now fully sorted will they announce he is arriving in the summer>
So - IF this is true and all this is a guess, Podolski probably has a release clause if Cologne get relegated. In order to avoid having to let him go for next to nothing (salary to end of contract, about 2.5M?), they will cut a deal with another team (Arsenal) prior to the end of the season. Of course if they stay up he still has to move, but he only has one year left on his contract (30.6.2013), so he was likely to move anyway. The rule only prevents players transfering (playing), not deals being struck.
So let's say we sign him in the summer AND keep RVP, what does our first team attacking line up look like? (Assuming of course we stick to 433).
Another Bendtner? Jeez, nobody with that sort of attitude survives in the current German national team. Podolski has been nothing short of stunning in such a poor team like Koln. To get the goals he has in a team like that is brilliant. He has a hammer of a left foot and also knows how to work for a team. Great buy for the reported sum. This is a player that is about to hit his peak and he has already scored 40 odd goals for Germany.
Wow. Great post mate. Agree on ecverything you said. I hope Coq gets a chance as a holding player for us next year . You are dead on song. Its not his fault though. For some reason arsene told him to attack more last year. I remember the interview when song got critised. Wenger is at fault for allowing the fullbacks to bomb on and yet not playing a holding midfeilder. Its suicidal to be honest.
Great Back-Up for van Persie or as second forward, but I don't want to see him on the left wing. Gervinho and Walcott might not be as clinical as him, but their defensive work-rate is much higher and that's very important in the modern football.
Rosicky should stay. But on a 1 year deal. I think he has been so good this year because he has 1 year left on his deal. Also diaby should go but wenger loves him Btw its penalties in the lyon vs apoel tie
http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2012/mar/07/lukas-podolski-arsenal-cologne-transfer? The Guardian are reporting it now.
My fear is Podolsky is seen by Wenger as RVP replacement, not a back up. First - Podolsky is way too ambitious ( and lets admit it, has too much quality) to sit on the Arsenal bench. Second - reported £100K per week is not the sort of money Arsenal are prepared to pay for a back up. It is more than RVP is getting now.
Surely podolski can play wide too. He has for germany. I think he will play wide unless rvp leaves. And the 100k a week is a great sign. Shows that the board are loosening the wage structure and are hopefully going to shift some of the deadwood to make way for some top players on bigger deals.
If the Guardian are reporting it then i'm starting to be convinced.When the Morning Star(incorporating the Daily Worker for peace and socialism) report it then i'll be convinced it's 100% true.
It will be good to have an adequent back-up for rvp and someone who can come on and add another dimension to out attacking play. I don't think that wenger is seeing him as a replacement for rvp and he may see him as an option on the left, which will mean that we will have 4 top players fighting for two positions. I do expect this to be a sort of break through summer for arsenal as we need a replacement for fabregas and especially if we finish 4th then we will be able to attract quality players and keep rvp.
