Podolski "i love derby games"

Pemain nombor 9 Arsenal Lukas Podolski mendedahkan beliau menyukai suasana gamat dalam perlawanan menentang jiran setempat. Bermain dalam suasana yang gamat dihadapan penyokong lawan seperti menentang West Ham merupakan pengalaman yang bermakna buatnya yang baru merasai pengalaman bermain di liga terbaik dunia ini. Bercakap selepas menentang West Ham United di Upton Park, beliau turut meluahkan rasa gembira melihat rakan barunya Olivier Giroud yang menjaringkan gol pertama dalam kempen liga setelah mendapat hantaran daripadanya.

“The atmosphere was very good, the fans are crazy and you get a lot of derbies here,” the striker told Arsenal Player.

“In Germany you only have one or two derbies, here you have five! I like derbies but it was not good to lose to Chelsea at home.

“However, beating West Ham means we are back near the top of the league. I think it was a very important result.

“We saw the other teams at the top win, like Manchester City and Chelsea, so it was vital for us to get the three points before the [international] break.”

Having settled in quickly to life in the Premier League, Podolski was pleased to see Giroud open his account against West Ham.

“Everybody wants goals from strikers and it was not easy for him,” he said. “You must wait for your chance, keep fighting and the goals will come.”