Morning all.
A German International striker was just what we needed and after months of speculation, Lukas Podolski became an Arsenal player in the summer of 2012…
But as always, there was the concern about how an overseas player would settle into life in a tough English league, how would he deal with the trip up Noff to play the likes of Stoke, Sunderland, Newcastle, you know what I mean…
On 12 August 2012, Podolski made his debut in a pre-season match against his former club, Köln, scoring twice, once from a penalty in a 4–0 victory. A good start eh! His PL debut followed soon after against Sunderland on the opening day of the new season. He played 63 minutes before being subbed and on in his place came another signing from the same summer – Olivier Giroud. Neither scored as the game ended in a 0-0 draw…
Lukas first goal for his new club came on the 2nd September. A 2–0 win against Liverpool at Anfield and not only did he score, he turned provider for another summer signing to get off the mark – Santi Cazorla.
A second Podolski goal came in the next game, a 25 yard free kick in a 6–1 victory against Southampton. On the 18th September 2012, Pod scored his first Champions League goal in a 2–1 away win against Montpellier. Another followed in our second game in the Champions League as we beat Olympiacos 3–1 on 3 October
But then a month went by before finding the net again, a 3-3 draw against Fulham saw him back on track and then in November, a fourth League goal came as we battered Tottenham 5–2 in the North London derby. Another goal came in the Champions League which secured our place in the last sixteen and that was followed by an impressive performance during a 5–2 win away from home against Reading. He scored the first goal and assisted twice to help Santi Cazorla to score his first ever hat-trick.
On 30 December 2012, Podolski played an integral part of the team that beat Newcastle 7–3. He set up Theo Walcott for our first goal and pounced on a header for his last goal of 2012. He was substituted for Aaron Ramsey and the fans awarded his performance with a standing ovation.
On 23 January 2013, Podolski produced an impressive performance as we battered West Ham 5–1 – he scored one set up three others. Pretty good eh… On 2 February 2013, he scored the only goal via a deflected free-kick which ensured we won all three points against Stoke but it wasn’t until the middle of April that he scored again in a 3-1 victory over Norwich City.
Two more goals came in a 4–1 victory over Wigan Athletic towards the end of the season – a season which notched up 16 goals and 11 assists – not bad from a left sided forward……
Two goals in March for Lukas as he finally began to feature more regularly in the starting line-up. His first was a goal against his former club Bayern Munich in the return leg of the Champions League but it was nothing more than a consolation as we went crashing out of the competition as we so often do in the knock-out stages..
His second goal in March was an equaliser against Swansea City – another which wasn’t enough to see us get maximum points and despite taking the lead, the French Policeman scored an own goal to gift Swansea a point!
Not the best 68 minutes in our FA Cup semi- but a good game followed next with two more goals against West Ham in a 3-1 victory and another double followed when we beat Hull 3-0 away from home….
Lukas started the 2014 FA Cup Final against Hull City but had no joy in front of goal. At 2-1 down, he was replaced by Yaya Sanogo just after the hour. Neither player scored, but regardless, we went on to lift the big jug after Aaron sealed the result in extra time…..
Like Arsene Wenger, that was the day both should have left the club. Lukas Podolski for playing time because the way this season has gone for him has been truly awful. He just can’t get a game. Even his two stunning strikes in the Champions League weren’t considered to be enough, why, I’ll never know because he’s probably the most lethal striker we have at the club, possibly the most lethal in the Premier League. His left foot is awesome.
42 appearances during his first season with us, 27 during the second and then just 12 this season, and most of the latter have been from the bench. .
Now he’s off to Italy and I wish him all the very best and hope that his last few years in football are much better than the last one he’s spent at Arsenal.. .
On a final note, Arsene Wenger has dismissed the notion that he would have bowed to fan pressure and walked away had Arsenal not won the FA Cup, ending a nine-year trophy drought.
To walk where? Walk away, no. Look, I have just won my 600th game out of 1000. That means I have won 60 per cent of the games.
After 18 years, it would not be serious to walk away for losing one game. I do my job as well as I can and I respect my contracts always.
There you go, looks like he plans to respect this contract too……….
That’s it for today, Hull tomorrow…..
Just a short time ago Arsene was saying that Podolski had a big part to play in the rest of the season and that he had plans for him. More recently he denied that Lukas was leaving and promised him game time. With that knob Giroud acting like like an a…hole again I would have thought that we could really do with Poldi’s left foot and experience. But no apparently.
A more cynical soul than I could surmise that the ‘plan’, that we all hoped was firmly in place, is to make it up as you go along.
Who knows removes Podolski and saves £100k a week , promotes Akpom at a lot less and puts the money where ? another player ? the clubs coffers ? or Kroenke’s back pocket. We know that during the early years of the new stadium he was told to sell players to save money for the debt relief , perhaps he now has to do it to provide for Kroenke’s little bonuses.
Hi Rico
I agree with you about Lukas, I liked the way he always looked like he was giving 100% and his tackling back and defensive work was a real plus. He should have been used more if only as a sub – I think he scored his best goals as a sub.
I’m not worried about Hull tomorrow but then we have Stoke and Man City, perhaps Ospina will be fit for them. Sparky Hughes has always managed to stuff us both as a player and a manager.
Brian
Good luck Lukas….you deserve better treatment than Wenger has shown you!
More mediocrity coming out way! Oh fucking joy!!!
Potter. Good morning. I can only think that Wenger is trimming the wage bill in preparation for a big signing. 🙂
Terrible way to be treated, especially when Yaya Sanogo has been picked ahead of him..
Brian, Lukas tracking back, are you sure? 😉
Teddy Bishop and Tyrone Mings seem to be the favourites to join us…
Rico. I see the Tyrone/Teddie partnership as crucial.
Morning all,
Sad to see poldi go and wish him all the best. he is more than good enough to do a job for us in the lesser games but our manager would rather flog our first teamers until they have nothing left than rotate in capable replacements.
Personally I do hope this means Akpom gets more game time, would be great to see him come through the ranks and become a top player.
I think we all knew that Arsene was staying till the bitter end, two and a half more years of the same old s**t then.
This is one I posted earlier. I have no reason to change my mind:
Poldi gone! Another player Wenger wrecked! The best finisher at the club and he sells or loans him, rather than giving him game time. What have we lacked during Giroud’s first and second confinements? A goal scorer! So what does the old frail one do? He ignores a German WC winner in favour of a raw and rather useless french freebie, during our time of need!
Why? I have one suggestion. Podolski has a somewhat unpredictable personality, like he always seems to happy and he’s a bit of a prankster. He is for Wenger too much to handle, he lacks seriousness and needs to be taught a lesson or two. So he doesn’t play him, that’ll settle his hash! When they have a ‘confrontation’ on the training field it is the last straw as Wenger thinks Poldi is taking the piss and he is ‘unsettling’the squad, most of whom wouldn’t say boo to a goose! Solution get rid of ‘zees bad apfel’! So he goes!
I take Potter’s assessment of the financial ramifications and I’m sure he is right too, at this time, but what a waste of a very good forward, lazy but a very good striker.
Will he give Akpom a run out, nah, he’s not good enough, either! We’ll see tomorrow as we are a bit short up front!
Hull to win? If they do another nail will be firmly nailed into Wenger’s coffin! Thereafter it will only be a matter of time…………!
Morning All,
Wengers new year resolution…I will carry on telling them Pokies,HA HA.
So it looks like the german love affair is over.
Who will he buy,his had enough advice,
looks like the decks are being cleared,for someone or two.
He likes the chilians..so do I
We must have the only manager in history who’s idea of how to strengthen an already weak squad is to get rid of players!
Accumulating cash?
I know what for………..his final payment pension lump sum payoff, plus redundancy, plus loyalty bonuses, plus gifts from the Board.
New players? January? You’re having a laugh!………all the way to his bank!
Morning all,
Good luck, Poldi….
Adam,are T/T as crucial as Vaping?
Me too Adam..
Both could be good for the future but I’m seriously hoping for an experienced DM and CB at least..
What about signing the Chuckle Brothers,
to play at the back.
Me to You..You to Me
It is christmas.
Rico, are you serious?
Poldi is the best offensive player in Arsenal. If he was given more time and more confidence he would have done a lot. Poor wenger
Wavy, like I said earlier. I think Podolski not playing is all down to AW being cheesed off having been given the bumps at Wembley..
And yes, imo, something as trivia as that would make AW react in such a way, just like Campbell isn’t getting playing time because his agent tried to get him a move.
For a guy who professes to love the club, AW does the strangest of things and often to the detriment of the team…
About which Bt, the dm and cb? If so, yes….
Hull will be up for this game. With our defensive frailities and lack of bottle, Steve Bruce will fancy his chances.
Good luck to Podolski, a good player does not become a bad one over night. He needs more playing time and I hope he gets it in Italy.
I felt embarassed watching the performance against Southampton, but don’t take anything away from them, they deserved their victory and their position in the league.
I see a topsy turvy rest of season unless the Club buy the players that are much needed. To replace the ones who go missing all too often. But somehow I have a feeling will do it his way, and buy no one.
Rico, when they gave Arsene the bumps, they should have dropped him on his head. Maybe then he would have woken up and smelt the coffee…..
Rico, not so much dm and cb but the other,the future players idea that we’ve been sold for years, that has really worked.
Interesting to read that Ray Parlour visited the training ground recently, his observations, the training programme hasn’t changed since the days when he was at the club.
Fred, so do I re the Chileans
Bt, but I’m hoping Jonker has a better return than those before him… Surely two 18 year old head his way first and by the time they are ready, AW will be gone….
Good Morning All
Morning Rico, good post
Rico, do you really believe AW is going to spend a large wedge of cash on two 18 year olds and hand them over to Jonkers?
🙂 Marinello
Sums it all up from what Romford has said….
Morning Kev, thanks….
Good point Bt, no, I doubt it but that’s what he should be doing. Mings is meant to be the next best thing coming through for England…
It’s not a suprise to see Podolski leave, as his relationship with Wenger has soured somewhat this season…
At 29 and with only one year of his contract remaining, Wenger probably thought ‘act now or lose him on a Bosman’. A new deal certainly wasn’t on the table it seems…
No point keeping him for 18 months on £100k pw if you don’t intend to use him?!
Personally I am very sorry to see him leave.
I loved his sense of fun, the rapport he had with the fans.
Good luck to him…
Rico, are they not always the next best thing, as for coming through for England….well.
Marinello, perhaps they should have drop kicked him straight out off Wembley and landed him in the nearest Costa Coffee.
Just read Le grove Kev, Pedro believes we have been trying to get Pod off the books for the last two seasons….
You old cynic Bt….. 😉
Rico, less of the old…lol
AW made me what i am today….lol
Or was it Kev…
I thought it was Adam Bt… Lol
Kev is Innocent…
Afternoon all,
Wish you’d stop trying to cheer us all up rico, you gotta love these transfer windows.
Hi BT, you know, I don’t think the Hull game is gonna be a walkover mate, too many Gooners are assuming that we’re into the 4th Round already…
Pedro always does a good post Rico, and it wouldn’t suprise me at all if there was some truth in what he’s written.
Not sure that Wenger would have enjoyed the fact that Podolski had a mind of his own.
Ha ha. Micko, I try……
Kev, agree re tomorrow, far from a walkover…
Think Pedro is probably right too….
Hi Kev, i never take any Arsenal match as a walkover…
I’d buy a ‘Kev is innocent’ tee shirt if they’re available….
Rico, i didn’t mention Adam because i know he shuns the limelight, he likes his projects to stand on their own..lol
BT, I’m on it mate 🙂
🙂 Bt
Great news re Arsene though ! Has his critic’s but if there’s a world class crock out there this window my monies on Le Prof.
Didn’t Poldi get a tatoo not long after signing for us, nothing a bit of laser surgery can’t cure I suppose.
Free the Taxi Rank 1.
Sadly Wenger ain’t innocent………..hard labour on the Polish Front will do for starters! Reparation for sacking our only Pole Dancer.
Micko, are you sure they have to be world class?
Afternoon all. With all this rain I cannot summon the will to do much today. 🙂
Hope it stops for the game tomorrow.
Upright would do me for starters Bt.
Is Kallstrom still available…….
On that note, off for an hour….
Nice one Bt.
Steve Bruce will organise the Hull defence, then put 5 in midfield and Arsene will moan that they did not come to play football…… Bruce will play to his strengths.
The comment about Ray Parlour and the training being just the same did not surprise me. It can get so boring turning up for training and doing the same thing, day in day out, I would imagine.
Any predictions for the Hull game. I don’t feel confident about it but I’ll go for a 2-1 result, not sure which team will get the 2 goals though….
Good post again Rico.
Wavy 🙂
Thanks Marinello..
Merse has just had another pop at Wenger re Jenks being on loan at West Ham…..
Charlie Nic is laying into the defence now, big time!
Adam, still horrid here too….
Charlie Nic ‘AW says he will sign a defender if he can find one better than who he has – well I could tell him 20 or 30, maybe more who are better than the lot of them’!!!
Well said Charlie…….
Go tell him, Tiger…
Did you see it Bt? He didn’t hold back, neither did Merse and why should they….
Just a shame their views, like all others, will fall on deaf ears…….
Funny how all these ex players can see what is needed but Arsene is blind to any advice…..
So Pod passes his medical for Milan yet Wenger has always maintained he’s been unfit because of the World Cup…. Funny really as he barely played in the competition….
Real Sociedad (David Moyes) sniffing around Joel Campbell with a view to a loan deal, leading to a permanent deal in the summer…
Seems clear to me that Wenger doesn’t fancy him. And with a full week, following Hull, before we face Stoke at home I can kinda see Wenger playing safe and playing virtually his strongest side in the FACup.
I wouldn’t blame JC if he left, Another player being ruined, meanwhile, let’s flog Alexis into the ground….
I hope Hayden gets a start tomorrow….
So Campbell could be on his bike next…
Although I still kinda fancy Akpom being given a start against Hull…
Ospina in goal.
The Press will get a hard-on about Szczesny getting dropped.
And then Chezzer will return for Stoke.
End of Press hysteria…
Rico, I’m not sure, but I don’t think that Hayden is match-fit (whatever that means these days 🙄 ) from what I read, J.Bird, Hayden will get a few games in U21’s first, before he is considered for 1st team…
Ah, I thought he was back fit and ready Kev, shame. Ajayi then, anyone but bloody Mertesacker!!
Rico. Here also. Grim and grey.
I saw the Charlie Nicholas thing too. It really does beggar belief that the club has drifted into this peculiar position. If ever strong leadership was needed from the owner it is right now. The ship badly needs steadying from what I can see because we are locked into an up and down trajectory right now.
Couldn’t agree more Adam and you wonder why I hold Kroenke so responsible. Until that man makes the right decision, nothing will change….
That’s Ajayi career with us over then…
http://fresharsenal.com/arsenal-youngster-mocks-mertesacker-and-calls-gunners-feeder-club/?
In my opinion, Pod., no longer was able to be at Arsenal. No conditions.
From what I read, the business can be profitable for Arsenal. I doubt if he will return after June.
At the moment, will make any sense Sanogo be on loan? Campbell too?
Yeah, I read that the other day Rico…
Another ‘big time Charlie’ it seems…
Hasn’t played in the 1st team yet, and there he is, mouthing off…
I have always understood that Rico but I say that, due to his unique position, Arsene is the most culpable. When you look at any endeavour be it sporting or otherwise you really need checks, balances and accountability if you are to move forward. Personally I don’t think we have seen the last of the hidings we have taken over the last couple of seasons. I see the problems just like everybody else but I see little evidence that they are being addressed. I thought Arsene’s loyalty and contract comments were really all about him and I found that depressing.
At least Usmanov said that he felt the team needed strengthening in every position. I find it impossible not to agree with that sentiment. We are going to need a hell of a manager to take over, whenever that day comes.
good evening Rico and all..
Excellent post… Poldi just does him when things get tough…
We should have swapped him for Reus or Farfana last summer
Rico, read the Ajayi the other day///
Kev, were the comments not made before he joined Arsenal?
AW wants to keep Coquelin? lol
Where is Diabolic btw?
Big cahoonas Ajayi… lol
Adam, you’re spot on, i suspect and fear more spankings, await us.
Sorry, had to nip off and sort our poorly chicken out. She has been in the utility room all day and I forgot as the light was going shed try and roost. Lol
Mess administered and she back in the coup, utility room sterilised… Until tomorrow when it all starts again…..
BT. Sad but possibly true. We’ve been treading water for a long time now.
Lets hope wengers got the sky channel on,
It’s now a piss take,
you only have to look at our players before a game,
you would think some were on a shopping trip,
with the wife.
Sorry to hear that Rico.
Adam, I get that too but who allows him such power…. It starts at Kroenke for me and filters down. They are all responsible for this mess Imo…..
Batterings? Oh yes, I can see a few coming our way yet…..
Kev/Bt, I hope it’s an old story, we might need him in a couple of weeks 😉
Evening Ts, thank you…
Thanks Adam, it’s one of our rescue girls, she’s such a sweetie too.. The vet didn’t think too much is wrong but gave her a pick me up just in case – vape I think it is…. 😉
Ts, Potter was asking earlier if you’d heard the Klopp quit rumours?
Ah, is that so BT…
Then it’s a stitch up mate…
But let’s hope it has taught him a lesson.
And that he has deleted his Twitter account.
Ah, vape-eggs.
You might be on to something there Rico… 😀
Didn’t stop Jack and a few others Kev…
Shush, don’t tell Adam, he’ll be here tomorrow picking up a few… Lol
those that trained today – Ospina, Martinez, Bellerin, Mertesacker, Chambers, Monreal, Coquelin, Campbell, Rosicky, Cazorla, Oxlade-Chamberlain, Alexis, Koscielny, Debuchy, Gibbs, Walcott, Akpom, Maitland-Niles, Zelalem, Crowley, Kamara, Gnabry.
See you at 9am then Rico. 🙂
He made the comments 7 months before he joined The Arsenal while he was at Charlton. He is also a Chelsea supporter from the tweets he made about their Champions League win.
Potter, that’s what i gleaned from reading the article. I know nothing about twatter, nor do i want to.
Is that Chris Kamara Eduardo? Lol
Make it 10am Adam, give them chance to lay… 😉
Potter, I guess he’ll end up there one day then if he’s any good…
Or for you to get up, country girls…lol
Kamara is Finnish, Rico…
Not related to that Commedian off of SkySports, as far as I know…
Crowley eh?
Would like to see him on the bench.
Spot welded to the vape-eggs…
Cheeky Bt, up with the sparrows me… Lol
Merts is Finnish too Kev, well he should be… Lol
Have you got loud sparrows, Rico?
As for being cheeky…
Never…lol
Very loud Bt…. lol
You are always cheeky…. Tee hee
Buy Isco play him at CB and play merts as a false 9….. Simples!
Giroud and Merts….that’ll be some serious pace up top!
🙂 Lee
Rico you were banging on about us buying Clyne last season weren’t you? We wouldn’t go too far wrong with raiding the saint’s team or should we be raiding their manager? Wonder what he’d do with our current team? Enough of the questions for now!
Wenger’s Coquelin comments mean we’ve found our CDM it seems.
Lee, I don’t want to sound like some know it all, but yes, I once said foget chambers, get clyne and right now, I think we should have….
If their manager took over tomorrow, I think he’d let many players leave….
http://hereisthecity.com/en-gb/2015/01/03/tt-per-mertesackers-promise-to-arsenal-fans-after-defensive-woes/?
Coquelin, our new Cdm, well Fook off Arsene, you didn’t want him before this season, so why want him now you tight arse!!!!!
Sick of Merts words Lee, he’s old, slow and not right for the PL
I didn’t agree at the time but now wholeheartedly agree….
I think Chambers will come good but we need players now but I guess that doesn’t fit in with the Arsenal business plan.
Arteta
Diaby
Coquelin
Rosicky
Coquelin
They all need to go
I like chambers but he’s been flogged to death and now looks broken. Well done Wenger
And Flamimi of course! And Wenger!!!!
Don’t forget Giroud Rico.
Mertsacker too.
It’s always caviar tomorrow with Arsenal or should that be jam….
Let them eat cake….
Can’t belive I did Adam….. lol
Yep, and Merts Lee
I’d change Szczesny for Cech too!
Marmite Bt….
Rico, it’s a love/hate kinda thing…
Been reading a tread on al jazzera streaming £15 a month all 380 EPL matches live , pay monthly.
I’m off for the day guys, enjoy the rest of the night… My pillow needs me…
Night Adam, Lee, Bt and all….
I took BT’s advice from the other night and I’ve upped my dosage so things are looking a lot better! 😉
Count me out Bt, £25?a month, no way…… Lol
Gone now
Night Rico…..sleep well
Rico, £15 and HD…..lol
Lee, glad to hear things are looking up for you…..
The munchies is getting bad though! 😆
Sorry Rico…
Re Klopp… he allegedly handed in his resignation before the winter break but his chairman refused it.
I have mentioned for a few months that the BVB faithful have gotten fed-up with his tactics which on occasions are more comical than our Wenger-ball
He is joining Crystal Palace apparently…
Lol Alan Pardew managed to wiggle out of his 9 year contract…
Koop going to Palace??????
Morning Lee and all.
Thanks for that Ts..
Koop? Is that Sanogo?
That would be a coup.
Morning Rico, Brudder and all.
Good morning!! And Happy New Year to all!!
Quite upset about Poldi. I mean, it’s not as if our strikers these days are goal machines. I think we’d regret this. AW is making less and less sense by the day.
Morning Adam, apparently Palace are favourite for Sanogo, or is it Villa?
Morning Agag. Happy New Year to you. I think wily old Arsene has a surprise up his sleeve.
Morning Agag, Happy New Year to you too, one with many vacations no doubt… 🙂
Adam, I hope everyone had a fantastic celebration! And a magnum of vintage champagne! 🙂
AW had damn well better have another Alexis type of signing up his sleeve… Mygod, why do we still have Flamini??
rico, for the new year, I wish you beef and pork and all good things. 😛
rico, I was finally able to take one! Yay! Taipei has sooooo much street food. Even vegetarians would not go hungry. 😉
The only thing up Arsene’s sleeve is his elbow.
Morning All
Hey, Shopping Buddy, get over here, the ‘sales’ are rocking…
Sounds good agag… 🙂
Morning Kev, I know where his head is….
Where’s that Rico?
Kev, for whatever reason, I always end up going somewhere other than London. 🙁 I reckon the universe thinks, I may not want to leave and that I am likely to go on fangirl mode and stalk our players, hahaha. I am convinced, I may be deported. 😛
Oh, sales. 🙁 🙁 And I think the UK gives a 17% VAT rebate?
Bottoms Up Adam… 😉
Morning Rico… 😀
Morning Adamski… It’s gonna be a lot tighter today than is expected, I reckon 2-1.
Oxford St, Regent St, full of shoppers from every corner of the globe Agag.
New Bond St, now you would luv the shoe shops down there.
Burlington Arcade is another beauty. 😉
I often see Adam in the Old Bond St area… 😉
Morning Kev. Normally, it’s my milieu but this year I shopped from the sofa. 🙂
Rico. 🙂
I could make a crack there, but will resist on the grounds of taste. 🙂
What’s in Old Bond St.?
rico, you’d have loved it. 🙂
I think, we’d manage a win. 3-2.
New post up now…