</p></div></div></div></div></blockquote>Germany striker Lukas Podolski will join Arsenal for the start of next season, his current club Cologne have confirmed.
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The 26 year-old, who has 95 caps for the national team, will move to the Emirates for an undisclosed fee after both clubs and the player reached agreement over the deal.
Podolski said: "The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a top European club."
Podolski, who started his career at Cologne before rejoining them in 2009 after an unhappy three-year spell at Bayern Munich, added on the club's official website: "I have made this decision not against Cologne but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development.
"This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Cologne, our fans and the city are something special for me. I will always carry Cologne in my heart. We need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focused on our survival in the Bundesliga."
The Poland-born forward, who had one year left on his contract with the Bundesliga strugglers, has scored 18 league goals for a side battling relegation so far this term, his best ever top-flight return.
Cologne chairman Claus Horstmann admitted the club were sad to see such a popular and influential figure at the club go.
He said: "Lukas Podolski is a player of world class standing with a special relation to FC Cologne's fans and to the city.
"We are proud of the development Lukas Podolski has taken at Cologne within the last years.
"From his early days at our youth squads, via his first competitive match for our professional team, through to a highly renowned Germany international
"That's why we deeply regret his step, which is not a decision against Cologne but for the good of his own career.
"Cologne were prepared to extend Lukas Podolski's contract on the basis of a competitive offer. Nonetheless, this early transfer decision offers scope and planning security for the next season.
"We will jump at this opportunity to reinvest these transfer earnings back into our team's quality and into the promotion of our youth squads.
"Lukas has helped the club in many difficult situations, Lukas has left a mark on Cologne's reputation and we feel the need to thank him for numerous great football experiences at Cologne."
Monday, April 30, 2012
Arsenal Sign Lukas Podolski for Undisclosed Fee
Monday, April 16, 2012
Premier League - Arsenal v Wigan Athletic
Saturday, April 14, 2012
Sunday, April 8, 2012
Arsenal 1 Manchester City 0: Mikel Arteta wonder goal wins it for Gunners
Arsenal vs Manchester City [Premier League]
Arsenal
Subs from Almunia, Fabianski, Jenkinson, André Santos,Miquel, Djourou, Benayoun, Ramsey, Squillaci, Gervinho, Chamakh, Park
Doubtful None
Injured Coquelin (ankle, 16 Apr), Diaby (hamstring, 21 Apr), Wilshere (ankle, 21 Apr), Mertesacker (ankle, May), Frimpong (knee, Sep)
Suspended None
Form guide LWWWWWDisciplinary record Y55 R4
Leading scorer Van Persie 26
Manchester City
Subs from Pantilimon, Taylor, K Touré, Barry, Zabaleta, Savic, Kolarov, Milner, Pizarro, Johnson, Hargreaves, Tevez, Dzeko
Doubtful None
Injured None
Suspended None
Form guide DDWLWW
Disciplinary record Y41 R4
Leading scorer Agüero 17
Match pointers
• Since their last league win at Arsenal in October 1975, City have scored just nine goals in 26 visits to north London
• If he scores in this match, Robin van Persie will become only the fourth player to score against 17 different teams in a Premier League season – after Andy Cole (1993-94), Alan Shearer (1995-96) and Ian Wright (1996-97)
• There have been three red cards in the last three league meetings between these sides
• Arsenal have failed to score in five of their last six games against City in all competitions, including the last three at the Emirates Stadium
• Before Christmas David Silva scored five goals and provided eight assists but since Christmas he has not scored any goals and has managed just four assists.