Lukas Podolski

Lukas Podolski is looking forward to working with Per Mertesacker

Arsenal’s new signing Lukas Podolski has been informed about what to expect at the Gunners ahead of his first day in north London after Euro 2012 by fellow Germany international Per Mertesacker.

The forward also admitted that working with Arsene Wenger was one of the lures to north London.

“He has been a very successful coach both in Europe and around the world,” Podolski told the Official Arsenal Magazine. “This definitely helped in making my decision.

“He speaks several languages, and German in particular, which is very helpful. We have spoken to each other on the telephone a few times, which was very good and also made my decision even easier.

“I speak to Per whenever we meet,” he added. “Per has mentioned things about the Club’s organisation, the training ground and the fans, and this has really helped.

“It might have influenced me to a certain extent, but in the end of course I took the decision to come here myself.”