The German striker is reportedly dissatisfied with the wing role he has been given in London so far, and have Arsenal hindered themselves by pushing their best striker out wide?
If all of Arsene Wenger’s players get their way, it’s going to get very crowded in the centre of their attack. With Theo Walcott saying this week he deserves to be given a chance through the middle at his club, Lukas Podolski is the latest man to make a similar request.
The German player has generally lined up on the left side of Arsenal’s three-pronged attack, a position he is often used in for his national side, but with the problems Arsenal have had finding a regular goalscorer this season, have they shot themselves in the foot by putting Podolski on the flank?
Though Podolski has never been an outrageously prolific striker, he is certainly someone who can play as an out and out frontman. He returned 18 goals in 29 league games for Koln last year, and has 44 goals for Germany to his name.
As the player himself has said, the extra defensive work he has to do on the wing for Arsenal limits his scoring opportunities. Arsenal have tried Gervinho, Giroud and most recently Walcott through the centre of their attack this season, even Chamakh has a go, but Podolski has remained side-lined. Looking at way Arsenal have struggled for goals in recent Premier League matches, it seems very odd Podolski has remained in a support role throughout.
Whilst Walcott has been supporting his claims for the spot with recent goals, it makes more sense that Podolski is given a chance in the middle first. He is a more experienced striker and a more complete player than Walcott in general.
Freed of the support duties he is currently undertaking on the wing, there’s every chance Podolski would return handsome amounts of goals in Arsenal’s set up. With Arsenal not short of players able to fulfil Podoski’s duties on the left flank, the German could be moved into the centre quite easily.
When Robin van Persie left in the summer Arsenal had already signed Podolski and Giroud as replacements for their attack. Giroud is clearly someone who can only play through the middle, but has so far looked short of confidence, especially in the Premier League.
That Podolski can play on the left wing should not mean he isn’t tried in the centre, and if Arsenal do give him a go, they may find they’ve had the perfect striker in their side all along.
images: © Ronnie Macdonald, © sdhansay
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