'%20x='0'%20y='0'%20height='100%25'%20width='100%25'%20%0A%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20%20xlink%3Ahref='data:image/jpg;base64,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'%3E%3C/image%3E%3C/svg%3E)
Olivier Giroud and Lukas Podolski
Lukas Podolski is making a slow yet promising return to the Arsenal team after four months out of action with a torn hamstring. Including his return to action against West Ham United on Boxing Day the Germany international has played in three of their last five matches but has not started any of them.
Lukas Podolski appearances in last five games
Despite leaving him on the bench despite some injury concerns Arsene Weneger is talking up Podolski and said as recently as last week
“If there is one (player) you want to see in front of the goal in a shooting position, it is him because Podolski is certainly one of the best finishers I have ever seen.
“He can play that central role when he is completely fit and is one of the potential assets we have there.
“When he is physically ready, he will of course help us.”
However, with injuries to Theo Walcott and Nicklas Bendtner and Olivier Giroud occasionally needing a rest is Wenger right to keep starting Podolski from the bench? Especially when he has been so complimentary of him.
It is hard to get a judge on how good he has been this season as injury has limited him to five league games but in those five matches he has scored three goals which equates to a goal every 1.7 games. In Giroud’s 20 games he has nine goals which is a goal every 2.2 games and Walcott’s five in 13 works out at one every 2.6 matches.
Podolski goals
And although his data comes from far fewer matches Podolski hits 83% of his shots on target whereas Walcott manages just 59% and Giroud a poor 41%.
Lukas Podolski Shot Map (83% Shot Accuracy)
So this season Podolski is the best striker at the club with a better goals per game ratio and shot accuracy.
While last season Podolski scored three less than Walcott he netted the same amount as Giroud and by virtue of appearing in one less match had the better goals to game ratio. His shot accuracy was also 12% better than that of the Frenchman.
Arsenal Top Goalscorers (Last Season)
Even though it is better to draw data from last season where he played more games but in five games this season, as well as the aforementioned data he has completed 90% of passes and has earned one Man of the Match award.
Last season 84% of passes were completed and he won over half of the 25 take-ons he attempted as well as 78% of tackles and he made a mammoth nine assists from 31 key passes made.
Podolski also has the experience of playing in Germany for Bayern Munich and also against them in the Bundesliga which could well be crucial in the last 16 tie in the Champions League against the German treble holders.
The data shows that Podolski is the most efficient finisher that Arsenal and second to only the currently injured Walcott in the Premier League in 2012/13.
It looks like Arsene Wenger could well be wrong to leave him on the bench, however this could well be because he is still recovering from his hamstring problem. When fully fit it looks like he should be the preferred option at centre forward.
