Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes summer recruit Lukas Podolski can turn them into genuine title challengers this season if he keeps his scoring boots on.
Podolski has scored thrice in his last three games, and his goals along with his attitude have impressed Wenger.
The Gunners' credentials will be given an acid test at champions Manchester City on Sunday, but manager Wenger is convinced they are much stronger than last season's side, who finished third behind the two Manchester clubs.
"Yes, we are in a better position. We have a good consistency, results behind us and the confidence level is quite good. We are in a better position, a stronger belief than when we went there last year, that's for sure," the Daily Mirror quoted Wenger, as saying.
"Podolski is a very sociable guy, always a smile on his face, happy to be there, helpful and, believe me, he is a clinical finisher," he added.
"We have signed a player who was in a club (Cologne) that was not doing well. Last year he scored 20 goals in a club that went down. For me that is worth 30 goals in a club that is dominating a championship," he said.
Wenger further added: "It doesn't mean that he will score 30 because he played central striker last year and for us he plays more on the right side, left side. He can finish, that is for sure."
"He has experience, he has 100 caps. You see that in a game, he is calm and when he gets a chance, as you saw in Montpellier, you think that will be a goal," he further said. (ANI)
