Arsene Wenger likes Lukas Podolski in left-sided role for Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has admitted that he prefers new signing Lukas Podolski as a left-sided option.

Podolski made his competitive debut for the Gunners as a central striker, but has since reverted to a wide role that has brought the German international goals in successive games.

Following Arsenal's 6-1 win over Southampton, Wenger admitted that he chose to play Gervinho in an unfamiliar role as a central striker so that Podolski could stay on the left.

He told the club's official website: "I had a little hesitation today to play him at centre forward because I had played him only once there.

"He gives us a balance on the left and I didn't want to destroy that because he did well at Liverpool.

"He is physically strong and he is a fantastic finisher, and when a team plays as well as we did today, the adaptation is easy."

Podolski scored the pick of the goals in Arsenal's first home victory of the season against Saints, curling home a free kick from distance.