Time's Up for Lukas Podolski at Arsenal Despite Champions League Brace

Although Aaron Ramsey’s screamer inevitably dominated the headlines after Arsenal’s Champions League win over Galatasaray, it was also a good night for Lukas Podolski. The German scored twice to underline his goalscoring potential; however, even an emphatic brace may not be enough to win him a regular place in Arsene Wenger’s team. The sad fact is that Podolski’s Gunners career may be beyond saving.

Podolski has cut a frustrated figure for much of the season. His start in Turkey was only the second time he has been named in Arsenal’s starting XI in 2014/15. Considering we are approaching the campaign’s halfway point, that’s a remarkably low appearance tally. 

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He will have known it was vital for him to take his chance. Competition for places in Arsenal’s attack is intense, and Podolski could ill afford another underwhelming display. Ultimately, he did all he could do: two excellent goals and another thunderous strike off the bar is an impressive return for any player, no what matter the calibre of the opposition.

After the match, Podolski spoke optimistically to Arsenal Player (via Rob Kelly of Arsenal.com) about his performance:

"

Of course we are very happy, we won away in Turkey against a good team. It is always difficult to play in Turkey, with the atmosphere and the fans, but we did it well and we won 4-1, which is good.

I had the chance to play today and I always want to score, give assists and play well. For me it was important to play 90 minutes and keep going. It is not always easy to come in and do well so it was good for me to do that.

"

After an autumn of inaction, regular football is what Podolski needs to maintain his form; however, that may not be easy to come by.

It is telling that when praising Podolski to Arsenal.com, Wenger was also quick to cite the other attackers in his ranks: "It is a competition for places that is difficult. I had Welbeck, Sanchez and Giroud at home and you can only play a certain number of strikers. He came back later from the World Cup but he is now coming back to a very strong level."

It’s not just a numerical problem for Podolski. It's also one of suitability.

For more than a year now, it’s been clear that Wenger is unconvinced by what Podolski offers as a starter. The fact is that nothing we saw against Galatasaray will have changed that. 

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It was, in many respects, the classic Podolski performance. It was punctuated by goals at either end of the match, but for long spells in between, he disappeared.

Wenger seems to believe it’s impossible to carry a player like that, whatever their finishing ability. He seems to see Podolski as ideally suited to a substitute role, arriving late in games to try and conjure a crucial strike. He played that role to perfection in the away game to Anderlecht, and in doing so, he may have done his chances of starting more regularly more harm than good. It was an exemplary audition for a role as a star substitute.

That is unlikely to be enough to satisfy Podolski, who has made his displeasure at being confined to the bench clear. With the January transfer window now just weeks away, he might be tempted to force an exit to get the regular football he craves.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout the 2014-15 season. Follow him on Twitter here.