German World Cup winner scored twice in 4-1 win over Galatasaray.
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Lukas Podolski has the best goal-per-minutes ratio of any of Arsenal’s strikers this season, beating the likes of Alexis Sanchez, Olivier Giroud and Danny Welbeck.
Podolski’s stock at the Emirates has continually fallen since his move on a Bosman from FC Koln in 2012 – with the German harbouring a reputation as deadly in-front of goal but lazy in his defensive duties.
However, despite his bit part role in Arsene Wenger’s side Podolski still has managed to become the Gunners most consistent forward in terms of minutes needed to score – and added to his total last night with 90 minutes against Galatasaray, scoring twice.
CaughtOffside breaks down the Gunners forward line.
5) Yaya Sanogo – 354 minutes per goal.
Breaking his duck against Dortmund this season after a whole year without a goal for the young striker was certainly a highlight in a season of lows for the Gunners so far.
However, one goal in eight games is hardly a great return. Sanogo has seemed to be Arsene Wenger’s personal experiment ever since he was from Auxerre in 2013 with the Arsenal boss affording the Frenchman more opportunities to succeed than any of his other young forwards such as Chuba Akpom and Joel Campbell.
Wenger must see something about Sanogo in training but the question is, will we ever see it on the field?
4) Danny Welbeck – 232 minutes per goal
Arsenal’s deadline day striker has proved a shrewd signing from Arsene Wenger who reacted quickly when it was discovered Olivier Giroud would be out injured for around three months at the end of August.
Welbeck has enjoyed time in his preferred central position in the Frenchman’s absence but may need to up his ratio if he wants to keep from being shunted to the left wing now Giroud is fit again.
3) Alexis Sanchez – 133 minutes per goal
It may be an initial shock that the Chilean isn’t higher up this list but it is an understandable statistic when considering Sanchez has played the most minutes for the Gunners this season, despite being their leading goalscorer.
But with 14 goals, four assists and a shot conversion rate of 30.4% only a fool would complain about Sanchez’s prolificness in front of the net.
2) Olivier Giroud – 129 minutes per goal
The Frenchman’s commanding presence up top was keenly missed during his almost three month spell out of the Arsenal side after he broke his foot against Everton.
Announced his return against Manchester United with a thunderous effort into the top corner, even if it didn’t end up mattering and will look to add to his total with the coming Christmas calendar
1) Lukas Podolski – 100 minutes a goal
The German’s place a that the top of this list might be skewed slightly due to his relative lack of minutes and late substitutions into games.
However, what cannot be in question is just how deadly Podolski can be when given a sniff of a chance which explains how he’s amassed three goals already this season from just 14 shots and in his entire Arsenal career has smashed in 31 goals from 55 starts.
Arsene Wenger may see Podolski as a luxury coming off the bench and may not trust him to track back or put in a solid defensive shift when he’s not cracking shots from distance, but there’s no doubting the potency of Podolski’s goalscoring exploits.
And if his showing in Galatasaray hasn’t placed him in line for a starts over the likes of Welbeck then there’s surely no doubt he has to be on the bench over the likes of the ineffectual Joel Campbell.
(Statistics courtesy of Daily Mail)