Where will our goals come from now?

Now that Lukas Podolski is moving to Inter Milan on loan, one wonders where the goals are going to come from. Say what you want about Podolski’s lack of movement off the ball, low work rate on the wing and even his first touch, he was a constant source of goals. His powerful, accurate, left foot shots made even Wenger admit that there’s one person you wanted the chance to fall in the box…Lukas Podolski.

I do not blame Podolski for leaving to get more first team opportunities nor do I blame Wenger for letting him go if he was not convinced of his abilities. What I want to know is where the goals are going to come from. Twice Wenger has made a reference to the fact that he has Ozil in the team…once to inform Fabregas his services were not needed in Arsenal and recently when he told the media Podolski needed to understand there will be stiffer competition for places after Ozil returns from injury.

It seems Wenger has high hopes for Ozil. However, Ozil is not a goal scorer who will bang in goals from midfield like Frank Lampard. He is more of a creator who goes about his business in a quiet, nonchalant manner that can seem like he doesn’t care. Besides, we are already blessed with an array of attacking midfielders who can create but who is going to finish off those chances?

Giroud seems to have improved his finishing of late before his moment of madness and his physical presence up front means Arsenal can vary their attacks by crossing both on the ground and in the air but can we rely on him all season? Welbeck is another option but despite his tireless work rate, he is still a work in progress. Walcott may be physically fit but against Southampton he showed he still has some way to integrate back into the squad while Campbell needs a miracle to get in the side.

Every time Podolski stepped on to the pitch even as a substitute, there was always a buzz as you felt he could make the difference. I don’t question Wenger’s judgment but I do wonder where all the goals will come from now that Podolski is gone.