Lukas Podolski may have started his final game for Arsenal in the match against Galatasaray

The World Cup winner continues to be a peripheral figure

Lukas Podolski (GETTY IMAGES)

This is just Lukas Podolski's second start of the season for Arsenal, and it is quite plausible that it might be his last for the club.

Podolski has almost become a forgotten man at Arsenal, having never delivered enough to convince Arsene Wenger that he is much more than a flat-track bully. He has a good goal-scoring record against the weaker sides but, against the best, he is not disciplined enough to play on the left wing or mobile enough to lead to the line.

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Had it not been for the early-season injuries to Olivier Giroud and Yaya Sanogo, Podolski might well have been sold in the summer. He was open to the possibility of leaving and there was interest from Turkey and Italy. So this year he has been a peripheral figure, starting just once, in the Capital One Cup home game against Southampton. Arsenal lost 2-1.

Now that Giroud and Sanogo are back - to accompany Danny Welbeck and Alexis Sanchez - there is little use for Podolski at the Emirates. In January he will have 18 months left on his contract, meaning that he is depreciating in value. He could leave Arsenal with happier memories with a goal tonight - to go with his winner in Anderlecht in October - but that will probably be that.