Arsenal favourite Podolski tips Inter star to outshine Havertz

Tom Weber

Updated: 5 Nov 2024 13:27 GMT
3 min read

Lukas Podolski believes Arsenal will have the upper hand against Inter in the Champions League, but he is not convinced that Kai Havertz is the right player to lead the line for the Gunners.

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Arsenal are heading into Wednesday's massive Champions League clash with Serie A champions Inter in disappointing form. Though captain Martin Odegaard has returned to training, it will be a big ask to snatch more than a point from Simone Inzaghi's well-drilled side.

Inter held Man City to a 0-0 draw earlier in the season and will look to repeat this trick against the Gunners. Ahead of the game, Gazzetta dello Sport spoke to Lukas Podolski, who played for both sides, to get his thoughts on the encounter.

The former Germany international, who will soon hang up his boots after a stint at Gornik Zabrze in Poland, was a fan favourite during his time at Arsenal and had a brief, six-month loan at Inter in 2015.

Compared

Marcus Thuram

F (C)

Inter

Marcus Thuram

F (C)

Inter

VS

Kai Havertz

F, M (C)

Arsenal

Kai Havertz

F, M (C)

Arsenal

2024/2025

Season Statistics

2024/2025

13	Appearances	15
5	Assists	1
8	Goals	7

Podolski picks Thuram over Havertz

Despite the recent form, Podolski believes that Arsenal will have the upper hand in the game and he raved about Mikel Arteta's side. “Arsenal have done great things in recent years,” he said. “They haven't won the Premier League, but they've played great football and continue to do so.

“It will be a top clash. It's not just a typical group stage match; it's worth much more. Inter is Inter. Inzaghi's philosophy is well known, but if I have to choose a style that captivates me, I prefer Arteta's. I love what he manages to convey when the Gunners play football.”

One problem Arsenal might have, according to Podolski, is in the attacking department. The 39-year-old is still not convinced that Kai Havertz should be played as a striker and expressed his belief that Inter's Marcus Thuram will steal the show on Wednesday.

“Thuram - Arsenal don't have a striker like him. They have Havertz, it’s true, but he’s not a number 9. I’ve known [Thuram] since he played in Germany, but now he has become a real goal-scorer.

"It’s not easy to steal the spotlight from someone like Lautaro [Martinez]. Inzaghi doesn’t have any particular problems when setting up the team. That’s the level of Inter, to have two such strong strikers as starters.”