Lukas Podolski (Part 2)

During the 2012 winter transfer window, Lukas Podolski was heavily linked with a move to Premier League club Arsenal, but no deal materialized at that time. However, on 30 April 2012, it was officially announced that Podolski had signed for Arsenal on a long-term deal, although the transfer fee remained undisclosed. He made an immediate impact during pre-season, starting for Arsenal against his former club, Köln, on 12 August 2012, and scoring twice in a 4–0 victory.
Podolski took the number 9 shirt at Arsenal, previously worn by Park Chu-Young, who had been loaned out to Celta Vigo. This change came after the number 10 shirt, vacated by Robin van Persie, was given to Jack Wilshere. Podolski made his official debut for Arsenal against Sunderland on 18 August 2012, playing 63 minutes in a 0–0 draw.


He scored his first goal for Arsenal on 2 September 2012, in a 2–0 win against Liverpool at Anfield, also providing an assist for Santi Cazorla. Podolski scored his second goal for Arsenal in the following game, a free-kick from 25 yards in a 6–1 victory against Southampton.
Podolski continued his goal-scoring form, netting in the UEFA Champions League against Montpellier on 18 September 2012, and again against Olympiacos on 3 October. He also scored crucial goals in the Premier League, including in the North London derby against Tottenham on 17 November, and in a 2–0 win against Montpellier in the Champions League.
One of his standout performances came in a 5–2 away win against Reading, where he scored one goal and assisted two more. He ended the season strongly, contributing to a 7–3 victory over Newcastle on 30 December 2012, and producing an impressive performance against West Ham on 23 January 2013, scoring one goal and setting up three others in a 5–1 win.
Podolski's versatility was evident as he filled in as a centre forward following Olivier Giroud's suspension, scoring twice in a 4–1 win over Wigan Athletic, which resulted in Wigan's relegation from the Premier League. In his debut season at Arsenal, Podolski totaled 16 goals and 11 assists, establishing himself as a key figure in the team.


Lukas Podolski showcased his goal-scoring prowess for Arsenal. He opened his goal account for the season on 24 August 2013, netting twice in a 3–1 away win against Fulham. However, his momentum was halted when he sustained an injury in the Champions League qualifier against Fenerbahçe, ruling him out for 10 weeks. Podolski made a comeback on Boxing Day against West Ham United, scoring Arsenal's third goal in a 3–1 victory.
Podolski continued his goal-scoring form in the FA Cup, bagging a brace in a 4–0 fourth-round win over Coventry City in January 2014. He added another goal in February, helping Arsenal secure a 2–1 FA Cup win over Liverpool and advance to the quarter-finals.


Podolski found the back of the net twice. His first goal came against his former club Bayern Munich in the UEFA Champions League last 16 tie, although Arsenal ultimately exited the competition. He followed this up with an equalizer against Swansea City in the Premier League, also providing an assist for Olivier Giroud.
Arsenal's journey in the FA Cup continued, with Podolski contributing significantly. He scored twice in a win against West Ham United and followed it up with another brace in a victory over Hull City. Podolski started in the 2014 FA Cup Final against Hull City, although he was substituted after 61 minutes. Despite this, Arsenal managed to secure a 3–2 win after extra time, ending their nine-year trophy drought.


Following their triumph at the World Cup with the German national team, Lukas Podolski, along with his compatriots Per Mertesacker and Mesut Özil, were granted permission by Arsenal to skip the 2014 Community Shield match. Despite their absence, Arsenal emerged victorious with a 3–0 win against Manchester City.
In November of the same year, Podolski expressed his dissatisfaction with his current role and lack of playing time at Arsenal. He openly discussed his frustration, stating, "Of course I am not happy with my situation right now. I can't be satisfied with that. It is hard when you can't do what you love." These comments shed light on Podolski's desire for more opportunities to showcase his talents on the field.


Arsenal confirmed that Lukas Podolski had completed a temporary move to Serie A club Inter Milan for the remainder of the 2014–2015 season. Following the announcement, Podolski swiftly joined his new team for training in preparation for their upcoming league fixture against Juventus on 6 January.
Podolski made his debut for Inter Milan in a 1–1 draw against Juventus at the Juventus Stadium. He entered the match as a substitute, replacing Zdravko Kuzmanović in the 54th minute. Despite his arrival, Podolski did not feature in Inter Milan's squad for the knockout stages of the UEFA Europa League, as coach Roberto Mancini opted to utilize Xherdan Shaqiri instead. On 28 April 2015, Podolski scored his solitary goal for Inter Milan during his loan spell. His goal proved decisive as Inter secured a 2–1 victory over Udinese, with Podolski finding the back of the net in the 65th minute of the match.


Lukas Podolski penned a three-year deal with Turkish club Galatasaray, marking his move from Arsenal. The transfer involved an initial fee of £1.8 million, followed by subsequent payments of £2.1 million to Arsenal for three consecutive seasons. Podolski's arrival at Galatasaray coincided with instant success, as the team secured victory in the Turkish Super Cup.
One of Podolski's standout moments with Galatasaray came in the final of the Turkish Cup on 26 May 2016. In this crucial match against Fenerbahçe, Podolski stepped up and scored the decisive goal, securing a 1–0 triumph for Galatasaray and clinching the Turkish Cup trophy.


Lukas Podolski revealed his move to Japanese club Vissel Kobe following the conclusion of the Turkish season. His debut for Vissel Kobe on 29 July 2017 was memorable, as he netted two goals in a 3–1 triumph over Omiya Ardija in the J1 League. Podolski continued to make an impact, contributing an assist to Andrés Iniesta's first goal in the J1 League during a 2–1 victory over Jubilo Iwata on 11 August 2018. A significant moment in Podolski's time with Vissel Kobe occurred on 8 December 2019, when he scored a hat-trick in a 4–1 win against Júbilo Iwata. This achievement marked his first hat-trick in the J1 League.
Podolski's success with Vissel Kobe reached new heights on 1 January 2020, as he played a pivotal role in the team's 2–0 triumph over Kashima Antlers in the final of the 2019 Emperor's Cup. Notably, this victory secured Podolski's first trophy in Japan and also marked Vissel Kobe's first-ever major trophy.

References

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3. ^ "1. FC Köln – Poldi-Pixel". pixel.fc-koeln.de. Archived from the original on 21 October 2009. Retrieved 2 November 2009.
4. ^ "Schumacher helps fund Podolski signing". FourFourTwo. 24 February 2009. Retrieved 26 August 2014.
5. ^ "Köln vergibt Podolskis Nummer 10 nicht mehr" [Cologne doesn't give out Podolskis Number 10 any more] (in German). Focus. 5 May 2012. Retrieved 11 June 2014.
6. ^ "Cologne break Lukas Podolski vow". ESPN. 7 July 2014. Retrieved 25 January 2015.
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9. ^ "Squad numbers updated for start of season". Arsenal Football Club. 17 August 2012. Archived from the original on 20 August 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
10. ^ McManus, James (17 August 2012). "Wilshere takes Van Persie's No.10 shirt at Arsenal". Goal.com. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
11. ^ Clarke, Richard. "Arsenal 0–0 Sunderland". Arsenal Football Club. Retrieved 19 August 2012.
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