Pod off! Juve and Atletico want Gunners striker Lukas

Posted Tuesday, March 12, 2013 by The Sun

LUK OUT ... Arsenal face fight to keep Podolski

ARSENAL face a summer fight to keep hold of Lukas Podolski.

Juventus and Atletico Madrid are both interested in signing the Germany striker — less than a year after he arrived at the Emirates for £10.9million.

Podolski, 27, is set to miss Arsenal’s Champions League clash with his former club Bayern Munich tomorrow because of injury.

He started — and scored — in the 3-1 home defeat to Bayern but has fallen out of favour with boss Arsene Wenger and his previous three Premier League appearances have been from the bench.

Yet Podolski has scored 13 times this season and Juve are leading the chase, believing he would agree a move to Serie A in a deal likely to cost about £15m.

They would certainly have to bid more than the sum Arsenal paid Cologne and Juve would comfortably be able to beat his current weekly wages of £100,000.

Podolski proved to be one of the stars of the Premier League earlier in the season and has made a big contribution with assists.

But boss Wenger believes he could work harder during some games and has relegated the player to the bench for recent league matches.

Podolski’s ankle problem means he is unlikely to be on the plane for today’s trip to the Allianz Arena.

In another blow, Jack Wilshere is also set to be ruled out against Bayern.

Wilshere has yet to recover from an ankle knock but he could still face Swansea on Saturday.

Arsenal are also sweating over the fitness of right-back Bacary Sagna.