Lukas Podolski has opened up about his struggle to play the minutes he believes he deserved during a two-and-a-half-year stint with Arsenal.

The former Bayern Munich forward joined the Gunners in 2012 and went on to score 31 goals and provide 17 assists in 82 appearances, also winning the FA Cup in 2014.

Podolski’s time in North London coincided with Germany’s triumph in the 2014 World Cup, but he saw limited minutes in the 2014/15 season despite being a part of that victorious squad.

In November 2014, he vented his frustration about a lack of game time and was loaned out to Inter Milan two months later.

Lukas Podolski and Arsene Wenger in 2013 (
Image:
Arsenal FC via Getty Images)

And Podolski, who now plays for Turkish club Antalyaspor, maintains that he was not given the minutes his performances warranted. “I didn’t get enough game time; I felt that I performed well and didn’t get the minutes I deserved,” he told FourFourTwo magazine.

“On the other hand, if you look at my stats, I played in about 80 matches and was directly involved in a lot of goals by scoring or assisting.

“My relationship with the fans and players was positive. We won the FA Cup in 2014, which was the club’s first trophy for quite a few years. And I liked living in London, in Hampstead. My family enjoyed it, too.”

Podolski spent two-and-a-half years at Arsenal (
Image:
Getty Images)

Despite lamenting his limited game time, Podolski maintains that he had a strong relationship with Arsene Wenger, with the former Arsenal manager describing him as one of the best finishers he had ever seen.

“He was a great manager and I really like him as a person, too,” Podolski added. “He was like a grandpa: a very intelligent man, who was nice to talk to. He could speak lots of languages and never yelled.

“He was Arsenal: he created everything. Arsene created a style of playing. He was the man who oversaw the club’s move to the Emirates Stadium from Highbury, and won so many trophies during his 22 years there.

Wenger described Podolski as one of the best finishers he had ever seen (
Image:
EMPICS Sport)

“I’d be fascinated to see how he would have done in charge of another team.”

* This month's FourFourTwo features the Football League Top 50 as voted for by fans, and is available to buy in shops and online from Wednesday, April 1.

Also in this month's issue, Cristiano Ronaldo closes in on becoming international football's greatest goalscorer, Lukas Podolski answers your questions and the rise and fall of Michel Platini.

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