Podolski backed to succeed

Lukas Podolski: Backed to succeed

Arsenal's Per Mertesacker is backing fellow Germany international Lukas Podolski to prove a big success in England.

Podolski has agreed a move to the Emirates from Cologne and will link up with the Gunners this summer.

Mertesacker is confident his fellow countryman will make an impact in the Premier League.

"He has good physical power and that is what is needed in the Premier League," Mertesacker told the club's official website.

"He is very quick too. It is a challenge for him, but he can cope with it.

"Lukas is very confident. When he feels he has to be there for the team and when we needed a goal he was always there.

"He was always one of the best players on the pitch and nothing could take him down. He is so confident and that is what I like. He is a fantastic striker.

"Everywhere he has played he has scored a lot of goals.

"He is very good on his first touch when he has the ball in front of him, that is a big quality and very good for us."

Enjoy

Mertesacker encouraged Podolski to join Arsenal and the 27-year-old feels his international team-mate will fit right in.

"I spoke to him several times and gave good references to this club. He will enjoy his time here," Mertesacker added.

"Some things are different in Germany to this club, especially here at the training ground. You have no press, no supporters around here and you can concentrate on training.

"It is very calm here and that is a good thing, especially for him because he is very famous in Germany and has played very well in the last big tournaments for them.

"He is very popular and that can sometimes be dangerous because everybody is putting pressure on him, but here you can concentrate on yourself and on your team.

"This is a great place for him to develop his performances as a footballer and a person, like I have in the last year."