It is has been widely reported that
Lukas Podolski will move to Arsenal this summer for a transfer fee of £10.9m. It is believed
that he has signed a 4-year contract for a salary of £100,000-a-week.
Now, I usually don’t like to believe transfer news until it has been confirmed
by either party but the following evidence is proof enough that this is, in
fact, a done deal.

EVIDENCE THAT DEAL IS DONE

A few days ago, former Bayer Leverkusen manager Reiner Calmund was
quoted as saying there’s a “90 per cent chance" Podolski will join the
Gunners this summer. "I would bet a fortune on it! I talked with Lukas
during the carnival. He is fixated on clubs in England, and I believe that
there is a 90 per cent chance that he will move to Arsenal”.

A few days after Per Mertesacker told Sky news that "He [Podolski] has
shown a lot of interest in recent weeks and has sent me a text message… As you
can imagine, I've told him positive things… I have written to him, though, to
tell him how well he can do here and what a great club it is. I think it [the
transfer] can happen."

The most telling
however was was what Per said during an interview yesterday: “I think time will bring clarity… But I’m not a teammate of Lukas
Podolski… yet”. See interview here: http://www.skysports.com/video/inline/0,,16429_7579921,00.html

LOOKING AT THE MONEY

In this market, it would be an understatement to say
that 10.9 million pounds is a very good price for a striker of Podolski’s
pedigree.  The fact that he is only 26
years old and a seasoned international makes this a prudent buy.  However, Arsenal are paying a lot more than
it looks on the surface. If  his contract
is for £100,000-a-week,
that means he will be earning £5 million-a-year or £20 million over the course
of 4 years.  That totals to £30 million
excluding Agent fees & bonuses. Even still, that is still far less than his
market value. 

The real point of
interest here is that it signals a change of approach by Arsenal board.  To put in perspective Arsenal highest ever
paid player was Cesc Fabregas who was earning approx. £110,000-a-week.  What’s more is that our current captain Robin
Van Persie (who most would agree is values higher) is on £70,000-a-week.
Bearing this in mind, Podolski’s wages are quite high by arsenal’s
standards. 

SO what?  Well, it is believed that Arsene has from
40-50 at his disposal for the summer. 
This buy, along with the fact that RVP will be getting a massive salary
increase on his new contract, means that there will be little money left for
other transfer options.  Of course IF we are able to sell/terminate some of
our less deserving players (crossing fingers) Wenger will have additional
funds.  That however is a big if and they
will have to wait until said players are sold first before attempting to use
the money freed.  END RESULT: it is
unlikely that we be able to sign any other big name players such as a Hazard or
Vertonghen.

Now, let’s have a
look at the compilation I made of Podolski’s career stats below.

PERSONAL STATS

A.
German National Team  (Fall ’04 →
present):

Goals = 40; Assists = 9; Games Started = 73; Games
Sub’d = 17; Games/Goal = 2.25; Games/Assist = 10

B.
1st Stint @ FC Koln (Fall ’03 → Spring ’06):

Goals = 22; Assists = 0; Games Started = 47; Games
Sub’d = 3; Games/Goal = 2.27;

C.
Bayern Munchen (Fall ’06 → Spring ’09):

Goals = 30; Assists = 15; Games Started = 50; Games
Sub’d = 48; Games/Goal = 3.26; Games/Assist = 6.53

D.
2nd Stint @ FC Koln (Fall ’09 → Present):

Goals = 33; Assists = 16; Games Started = 85; Games
Sub’d = 2; Games/Goal = 2.63; Games/Assist = 5.44;

Shots Taken = 227; Shots on Target = 82; %Shots on
Target = 36%; %Shots leading to Goals = 14.5%

MY
CONCLUSIONS

PROS:

-This move is a welcome change from the board.
Buying Podolski is clearly aimed at convincing RVP and  the football world that the club does have
some ambition left in it

-We need another striker. Podolski is young, looks
hungry to get another chance at proving himself at the elite club level, and is
a proven goal-scorer. Even at Bayern his stats show that he yielded a good
return.

CONS/POSSIBLE CONS:

The stats may flatter Podolski:

1) He is the
head honcho at FC Koln. This means everyone tries to get the ball to him and he
takes all the penalty kicks and set pieces. 
I couldn’t find how many of his goals actually came from open play. In
Arsenal, he will not be the head honcho but another member of the team. I
wonder if he will still be able to be as productive

2) He is left-footed like RVP.  Now, I’m not sure what Wenger is planning but
I hope he gets his tactics right with Podolski. I hope he doesn’t alternate b/w
RVP & Podolski up front without ever playing them together.  More importantly, I HOPE TO GOD HE DOESN’T
TRY TO MAKE HIM INTO A WINGER like he did with AA.  I know he’s played on the flank before but
that’s not where he’s strongest. If Wenger isn’t stubborn enough perhaps he
could play him as the CF with RVP as the false 9 or play them together in a
4-4-2.

3) I know some of you must be thinking: “Is he gonna
be RVP’s replacement?”  For me this isn’t
a con, because I don’t believe RVP will leave us. He is our captain and he
loves the Arsenal. I think RVP is loyal and he won’t forget how Wenger stuck with
him through all his injury-ridden years. 
In fact, I think this buy is in large part to placate him and the fans
(they’re selling next year’s tickets right now).

MY VERDICT: A bit of a gamble Wenger is taking here,
given the money involved, other great strikers available, and his previous failure
to thrive on the big club stage. In the end, I do think it is one worth taking
so long as he is used properly.

it would be interesting what would happen if they get him due to the fact that they have Van Persie, Gervinhio, Walcott, and Oxlade. im curious to see how Wegner would set his offensive side of the team

WHAT IS YOUR VERDICT? I welcome your thoughts.

@raimondo: indeed. only the man himself knows atm.

so arsenal is changing formation next season to 442?

He's nice,but Arsenal can do without him. They have enough strikers that are never used to replace Podolski,he is going to Chelsea I think,to give a little spice to Chelsea.

If koln gets relagated this season, the price's gonna be much lower. Then we can close deals for other star players including Hazard. 

i'm rlly thinkin' what will be Arsenal formation cause they'are playing all the time 4-2-3-1. they playing with 2 DM Song, Wilshere and then wings Walcott,  Gervinho and AM Arteta, so if he will not change the formation he will maybe give Arteta to DM and Podolski will be under RVP, but let's wait what will AW do.

Great buy, we need that strength in depth, if would be awesome if he was to buy Eden Hazard or Mario Gotze, would really strengthen our squad.

This is really well put Holic, well done. I personally think he WILL join Arsenal. I hope so, because I like Podolski. Great player.

another great thread! I would welcome Podolski with open arms. Next we need Hazard or Gotze and maybe try to get M'vila again! But Podolski does have a notorious attitude but I think he's matured.

Arsenal doesn't need him for God'sake !!Their squad is a quality one and have everything to shine. I think you should look also for Guidetti or Hazard,it's the right choice and do it fast coz other club will take them.

Park and Chamakh aren't really cutting it for us. Chamakh especially. He was so good but his form dipped badly! So we actually do need Podolski.

The way you put the Podolski situation its very intelligent and deeper, in my opinion i think that he will be a incredible boost for us, i don't think that Wenger will bench him, as quikzyyy said i think he (Wenger) will probably change the formation to one that can put Podolski in the better position to give the 100%, he can play as winger but we know that as winger he won't have the chance of facing goal that would have being behind or side to side with RVP, the most likely formations that wenger will choose are 4-2-3-1 or 4-4-2, and also we probably will and HAVE to sell the players that we don't need anymore, like Chamakh and buy some players that can be a squad players but with class.

it will be a good signing fir arsenal, they need it in their attacking force as they cant keep relying on van persie, and it will be an interesting combination

@Cr7 @tevez Just because you dumbasses can't understand or comprehend a word of his intellectual analysis doesn't mean you should spread your cancerous opinion around. But since stupidity isn't a crime you're free to go! 

Podolski is great ! he has a lot of potential that has not yet been unlocked which Arsene can definitely do. One thing though arsenal has to get rid of some strikers they have tooooo manyy. Arshavin or Chamakh or Gervinho or Park and make it apparent some are going to go to see which players start playing more consistent and drive trade those and get a good defender and a GREAT mid fielder.. i would trade all those for Maicon and sneijder :)

OMFG, get a life skillz, you are calling him childish, how fucking ironic is that, you are the most childish person on the site...You are ripping Arsenal? that is hilarious coming from someone who is a known gloryhunter, you have no right to rip on any team or any person, you're a fucking disgrace so get lost.