Podolski’s Twitter joke at close season Tottenham link
UNSETTLED Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski yesterday scotched suggestions of a summer transfer to rivals Tottenham by poking fun at a post on Twitter floating the idea.
The experienced Germany star has admitted frustration at his peripheral role this season, following a World Cup-winning summer in Brazil, but made clear he would not be crossing north London with a jibe at a tweet discussing a rumoured £10m move. “Hell will freeze over before this transfer would happen,” he wrote.
Podolski has scored 28 goals in 74 appearances since joining Arsenal from Cologne in the summer of 2012 but has started just once this term, in a second-string selection for the Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton.
The 29-year-old insisted earlier this month that he had not asked to leave Emirates Stadium but conceded he would consider his options with the January transfer window approaching.
“I cannot be satisfied with the situation I am in at Arsenal,” he said.
“I am under contract at Arsenal and I am unable to say ‘I am off’. I am going to think things over soon as it’s going to be winter time.”
Gunners manager Arsene Wenger said last week that Podolski had been repeatedly omitted this season in part because he had lacked fitness when he reported back for training after the summer.
Arsenal have meanwhile been absolved of blame by European governing body Uefa for the use of flares by visiting Galatasaray supporters at the Champions League match between the teams on Wednesday 1 October.
The Turkish club, who lost the group fixture 4-1, have been fined around £40,000 and ordered to pay for extensive damage caused to seats at Emirates Stadium.
WIth Wojciech Szczesny suspended and David Ospina suffering with a thigh injury, Arsenal are expected to turn to third-choice goalkeeper Emiliano Martinez when they take on Anderlecht in Belgium tomorrow night.
Argentinian Martinez, 22, has made just two first-team appearances for the club, both in the League Cup, conceding six goals. He has also spent spells on loan at Oxford United and Sheffield Wednesday.