Pod has scored seemingly 31 goals in all competitions in 81 games, but I wouldn't be surprised if the 50 was starts. However he's frequently subbed early in games barely ever breaking the 70 min mark so it's probably fair to call it around 50 games worth of minutes. He's a VERY good player, an exceptional finisher, great movement but has been screwed by Wenger completely.
I even said at the time when everyone was banging on about how Welbeck will do better centrally that we have Giroud... the second he's fit Welbeck will be pushed out on to the wing. If Welbeck is better upfront(he's not, he's rubbish everywhere) or on the wing was a pointless argument as it's Wenger and Giroud is one of his favourites, Welbeck would be pushed on to the wing and we were paying 16mil and 100k or more a week most likely to a guy who is significantly worse than Podolski.
Even while GIroud was fit we were playing Cazorla out on the wing instead of Pod and Cazorla was diabolical out wide.
I still get this general impression that winners or guys who are likely more vocal about the clubs failings, get sidelined very quickly at Arsenal. Podolski, or Arshavin, Gilberto, Gallas, Toure, Pires, etc, a bunch of players who have had great seasons but in which Arsenal ultimately fail again end up forced out or forcing their way out often due to not playing despite having been easily among the top few players in the team the previous season.
You just feel like Walcott, Diaby and a bunch of others finish a season in fourth and are perfectly happy, don't seem to care too much when they lose bigger games and Wenger loves them. Other players see a push for a title end in January, seem disappointed in interviews and on some occasions publicly complain about it and end up gone within a year or so. Wenger likes these timid, happy with mediocrity players, the winners and top players all leave in one way or another.
he ought to go to some really crap non league club. Sod the money he doesn't need.
