Mertesacker: Podolski keen on Gunners

Cologne striker Lukas Podolski is extremely interested in moving to Arsenal, according to his international team-mate and Gunners defender Per Mertesacker.

Podolski has been strongly linked with a move to Arsenal, who have been heavily reliant on Robin van Persie for goals this term. The 26-year-old, who can operate as a lone striker or on the wing, has scored 16 goals in the Bundesliga this season and has been a part of the German national squad for the last eight years.

Mertesacker, who signed Arsenal from Werder Bremen last summer, told Sky Deutschland: "He has been very interested in the past few weeks and has sent me a number of text messages."

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