Wenger needs Lazio to lay off Lukas

We all know how badly Arsenal need another source of goals.

So what they don’t want is other teams trying to steal their targets.

If the reports that have come out today are to be believed, the Gunners are interested in signing German international forward Lukas Podolski.

However, a spanner in the works could be the rumoured interest from Lazio, with the Italian side hoping to make the Koln front-man their big name signing in January.

Arsene Wenger is desperate for more options in the final third, and to ease the pressure on his talisman Robin van Persie.

The Dutchman has already scored 13 goals this season, but the nearest striker to him in the scoring charts has a mere one, and that’s Park Chu-Young.

So it’s no surprise the London outfit are being linked with a move for Podolski, who has gained plenty of admirers through his career with both his national team and at club level.

But how much money they are willing to spend remains to be seen, and if their Serie A counterparts are prepared to stump up a considerable amount, Wenger may be priced out.

But whatever happens, the fact the Gunners are lining up new firepower will be music to all those Gooners out there.

And finally, van Persie may have someone to join him in finding the net at the Emirates.

So go away Lazio, Robin needs this.

James Shipp