Should Arsenal Cash In And Accept £12m For This Man?

Despite the transfer window being closed there is still plenty of gossip doing the rounds in the newspapers so we’ll keep you up-to-date with the latest transfer rumours. Today, should Arsenal sell Lukas Podolski?

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski is understood to be a £12m transfer target for ambitious Turkish club Galatasaray this summer, according to the Metro. My question is; should we consider cashing in already?

The report suggests that Podolski has become unsettled during the second half of the season due to a lack of first team action, and with only 1 start in the last 12 weeks, it’s easy to see if this was in fact the case.

Galatasaray, who signed Didier Drogba and Wesley Sneijder in January, are believed to be keen on the German international with the Metro claiming they are prepared to pay Arsenal £12m and offer the forward a £130,000-a-week four-year contract.

I’ve always been a huge admirer of Poldi’s and was excited when we signed him last summer. He’s settled in reasonably well and looked deadly in front of goal at times, scoring 11 goals and providing 15 assists in all competitions, which is a decent return for his first season in England.

However, he drifts in and out of games and doesn’t look comfortable playing in our formation. The 27-year-old has almost exclusively played on the left wing this season, which isn’t his best position. He doesn’t like the ‘dirty’ stuff like tracking back and helping out the defence. It’s never been his game and he clearly doesn’t enjoy being asked to do it at Arsenal.

He was given the opportunity to play up front against Manchester United on Sunday, and was largely disappointing. Although it must be remembered that it couldn’t have been easy for him to go straight in after weeks out the team and play in a ‘new’ position for the team. But playing as a ‘back-to-goal’ striker isn’t his best position either.

For me, Podolski’s favoured position in just behind the main striker where he can get involved in the play more but realistically, he’s never going to get the opportunity to play there regularly for Arsenal when we have the likes of Santi Cazorla, Jack Wilshere and Tomas Rosicky fighting for that role.

Therefore I fear we’re never going to get to see the best of Lukas Podolski in an Arsenal shirt. If we played 4-4-2 and he could play off another striker, I think he could be a big player for us. But Arsene looks like he’s sticking with his fluid 4-2-3-1 style, which Poldi just doesn’t fit into.

The boss also seems to have some sort of issue or problem with the German. Not on a personal level, as far as I’m aware, but the fact Podolski has only completed 90 minutes four times this season tells it’s own story. Wenger either doesn’t trust him, questions his fitness levels or thinks he’s playing sh*t in almost every game. Either way, there is certainly something up when a big summer signing and a German international with over 100 caps can’t complete a game for his club.

So it begs the question; should we sell if Galatasaray, or any other club for that matter, do come in with an offer in the region of £12m this summer? 

Personally, I’d like to see him stay as he’s a great ‘weapon’ to have, particularly coming off the bench, and he’s a very useful squad player. But I don’t see him being a regular starter anymore – especially if we strengthen the attacking options this summer – and at 27 Podolski is going to want to be playing regular first team football and I’m not sure he’d accept being just a squad player next season.

If he is, then I say keep hold of him, but if makes it clear he wants first team football or requests a move, I think we should at least consider cashing in and buying someone who fits our playing system more.

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What do you think? Should Arsenal consider selling Podolski this summer? Share your views in the comments section below.