Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Lukas Podolski has a "good chance" of starting against Sunderland on Saturday.
The German international joined the Gunners this summer and impressed on his debut against former club FC Koln during a friendly on Sunday by scoring a brace.
Wenger faces a selection headache ahead of the club's Premier League opener with the main issue being whether he decides to pick contract rebel Robin van Persie, but the Arsenal chief has admitted that he is tempted to hand Podolski his first competitive start.
"We are very pleased with him," Wenger told reporters in Germany after the match.
"He will make the squad [against Sunderland] in any case and he has a very good chance of starting the match.
"He's not at 100% physically. The running is still missing a little bit but we will sort that out. We know that he can score goals."
The 27-year-old was Arsene Wenger's first signing of the summer and has since been joined by Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla.
Matt Cotton
