Stats: Is this World Cup winner’s Arsenal future at risk?

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Lukas Podolski’s future with the Gunners could be under threat.

According to reports, Arsenal have rejected an approach from Galatasaray for Joel Campbell – but remain open to letting the Germany international go.

That’s hardly the sign of encouragement a World Cup winner might expect to return to. But the news (if true, of course) has been coming.

While 29-year-old Podolski offers experience and goals, there are many aspects to his game that don’t particularly suit Arsene Wenger’s style of football.

And, when it comes to viewing Podolski’s impact overall, he does not compare favourably with a number of his team-mates.

As Opta stats show, while the German was his side’s third-most clinical finisher in last season’s Premier League, Podolski offered less outside of the penalty box.

In terms of assists per game and dribbles won, the Arsenal man was bettered by every single one of his direct rivals for a place in the side. His crossing was also bettered by Theo Walcott, Mesut Ozil and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, while his tally of completed final-third passes was bettered by Aaron Ramsey, Ozil, Santi Cazorla and Jack Wilshere.

The problem the 29-year-old faces this term, of course, is that Campbell and Alexis Sanchez are now added to the mix.

And, if it’s a straight choice between selling Podolski and Campbell for Wenger, only one outcome looks likely.

At 22, Campbell has a bright future ahead of him and looks to offer pace and skill in abundance. For Podolski, his best years may be behind him – or there are, at least, not too many of them ahead.