Exclusive – Podolski loan switch suits both parties, claims former Arsenal star

John Hartson believes Lukas Podolski’s loan move away from Arsenal suits both parties.

The Gunners forward has agreed to spend the rest of the season at Inter Milan, after finding his first-team opportunities limited at the Emirates.

And ex-Highbury favourite Hartson claims Arsene Wenger’s side can cope without the German World Cup winner.

“It’s an area where Arsenal are OK,” he told the Alan Brazil Sports Breakfast show. “Olivier Giroud is coming back, Theo Walcott looked threatening against Hull, and they have also got Danny Welbeck.

“Lukas Podolski is a World Cup winner. He is very experienced and he’s at an age where he just wants to play.

“With these big squads you have to rotate and players aren’t going to play every week.

“Inter Milan have offered him the possibility to play every week - it’s a credit to him that he wants to go and play.

“He could sit on his backside, play every two or three weeks and pick up big wages, but he’s still got a bit of fight in him.

“Also, if he’s not happy, he might start moaning to the other players and becoming a bad influence.”