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. Now Mertesacker, who signed Arsenal from Werder Bremen last summer, has revealed his friend has contacted him regarding a move and claims the striker is very keen on joining Arsene Wenger's squad. "He has been very interested in the past few weeks and has sent me a number of text messages," Mertesacker told Sky Deutschland. "I've told him that this is a great place to work and that Arsenal are an amazing club. Nothing has been agreed on yet, though, and Lukas hasn't given me a ring yet." Podolski, who was born in Poland, recently refused to comment on speculation linking him with Arsenal, but Cologne manager Stale Solbakken admitted last month that he may lose his star striker this summer.