Well, well, well, what a surprise we all go yesterday eh? Not only a relatively big name signing but one that was announced in advance of the transfer window even opening.  It seems like lessons might actually have been learnt after last summer after all.

We’d heard Podolski might be coming/was coming but in true Arsenal fashion the rumours built and built to the point where he was having a medical every week according to those trusty people in the know yet we could never manage to get the deal sorted.  It’ll be this week, no this week, not this week, and on and on it went.  When it was announced that Chelsea had signed their German there was a bit of an outcry wondering why we couldn’t wrap the signing of ours up as simply as they did.

Well, now we have.

At 26 years old Podolski should be just about hitting his prime.  He has an average goal to game ratio of 0.4 (326 games including internationals, 141 goals) although in his last season with FC Cologne his ratio was significantly better at 0.6 with 18 goals in 28 league games.  He knows where the net is.

Of course, some sniping from rival fans suggested that he would be replacing RvP, but, as I’ve said, I’m sure RvP will be re-signing so what a forward line we have on our hands now eh?  Speaking about the transfer, Wenger said “We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future. He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options. We are happy to have made this signing early and we are looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championship over the summer, a level where he has already made 95 caps at the age of 26. That is a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player.”

While the player himself said “I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal Football Club and to play in the Premier League. Arsenal is one of the top clubs in Europe with a huge history. There are many top quality players at Arsenal and the style of football which the team plays is fantastic. I’m proud to become an Arsenal player and am looking forward to playing my first match at Emirates Stadium and doing my best for all the Arsenal fans.  I am looking forward to becoming an Arsenal player, but at the moment my focus is with my current club, FC Cologne. I will give everything I have until the end of season to make sure the team finish as high as possible in the Bundesliga. There will always be a place in my heart for FC Cologne.”

Notice that line about there being ‘many top quality players’ at Arsenal.  I wonder would he have been quite so willing to move had he thought we were going to sell what is, in essence, our one and only world-class player in van Persie? That’s not to say other players don’t have the ability to ‘become’ world class, just that they aren’t quite there yet before some of you start.

Anyway, it’s nice to get stuff done early.  I said on Twitter yesterday that if we could just get RvP’s deal sorted out then I would be happy enough with that as far as transfer activity went.  That’s not to say I don’t *want* to see other players coming in, I’m just not being greedy.  Arsenal have trained me well.

Reports picked up across the media that we were looking to tie up the signing of M’Vila as soon as possible as well, but, as with all things transferry, I’ll wait until it’s official before getting too excited about anything.

In other news, well, there isn’t much to be honest.  That’s ok, we’re probably all still in shock over the Podolski news anyway to take anything else in.

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