podolski's problem at Arsenal

Arsene Wenger is facing an age-old problem with Lukas Podolski.

Wenger acknowledges that Podolski is the best natural finisher at the club, but the bigger question about the Arsenal forward remains unanswered: Where is his best position? Podolski has rarely impressed through the middle or even looked as if he has the potential to be a central striker for Arsenal.

Podolski has generally played on the left of attack for Germany, and his goal-scoring ratio for one of the best national teams is remarkable, with 46 in 112. But his role for Germany is far from being a left winger who must track back to defend.

Much like it was with former Gunner Andrey Arshavin, the current Arsenal formation hardly lends itself to Podolski playing on the left. Neither player is a left midfielder who gets forward and defends.

Podolski's first instinct is to attack and, looking at him in the first half against Manchester City, he was often more advanced on the pitch than striker Olivier Giroud. Time and again, Podolski left Kieran Gibbs exposed and isolated at left back, didn't track back nor offer much protection. Manchester City clearly saw Arsenal's left as a weakness and made their breaks down that flank. That has to be as a result of Podolski playing there.

In the second half, Podolski was more disciplined; he was influential in Arsenal's strong response and provided the assist for Mathieu Flamini. Sadly for Arsenal, Podolski's reputation as a finisher let him down and he missed a good chance to win the game when he was denied by City goalkeeper Joe Hart's legs.

That was a shame because Podolski had played so well as a supersub against Swansea, scoring and setting up another for Giroud. For my money, that made him Arsenal's man of the match against Swansea.

Podolski clearly has a good value in Arsenal's squad because he can make a difference and is generally a good finisher. But it is more a question, if he is to become a more regular starter, about finding him a place in the system.

Arshavin struggled as a left winger. He's not that player. He was a gifted player, but not a left winger as he wouldn't track back and more enjoyed playing as a No. 10. Eventually, Arshavin left because Arsenal and manager Arsene Wenger couldn't accommodate him in the system. If you look at the players who make the 4-2-3-1 system work, then it has to be wide, attacking and creative players who are prepared to track back and protect the full-back as well as get forward.

At Chelsea, manager Jose Mourinho clearly felt Juan Mata didn't do that but Eden Hazard did. At Arsenal, Theo Walcott would do that on the right, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain does it, yet Podolski's first instinct will always be to get forward rather than defend.

Podolski is a top-quality player, a proven international and is great from the bench and cost Arsenal a lot of money two years ago. He is also known as a big character in the dressing room; he's good behind the scenes as a motivator and inspires his teammates. He's a good lad, basically.

His stats are generally impressive. But stats don't tell the whole story; they tell about how he changed the game for Arsenal against Swansea as he scored and set up a goal. They also tell that he provided an assist for Flamini against City.

But they don't tell how he left Gibbs exposed in the first half against City and conceded possession in the build-up to City's goal. The point, however, must be argued that Podolski is not the player who is good at tracking back or protecting the full-back. So why ask him to do that role or complain when it doesn't work?

Podolski has a value to this Arsenal squad. But we have rarely seen him used to his best effect. And the shame is that I don't think that's necessarily Podolski's fault.