Podolski accuses Arsene Wenger of not showing respect following his departure to Inter on loan from Arsenal.
Podolski, 29, joined Arsenal from Cologne in 2012 for A?11 million. The German international failed to find a place for himself in the starting line-up and has now left on loan for Inter Milan. The forward claims that while leaving the club, Arsenal boss Wenger did not even call or say goodbye to the departing player.
Speaking to the Sun, Podolski said: a He [Wenger] said nothing to me. He did not call me or say goodbye. I dona t need flowers or a kiss from him. But it is about respect, about saying goodbye. For me respect is important. Maybe he had other problems with me.a
Podolski, who made just two starts for Arsenal this season, neither of which came in the Premier League, said that he was happy in North London but lack of opportunities led to him exiting the club on loan.
He said: a When you dona t get a chance you cannot show what you can do and the last five months I hardly played.a
Podolski claimed to have no complaints about not being a regular under the Frenchman. However, the World Cup winner admits that he grew increasingly frustrated when the manager refused to give him an extended run when he was in form.
He added: “If I had been given a run of five or 10 games and played really s***, then I could say: ‘Fair enough, I am not good enough.'”
However, Arsene Wenger has denied the allegations made by Podolski. The manager however, admitted that the forward did not get enough opportunities.
He said: a I had many conversations with him, he had my agreement to go on loan. I deny that completely but I knew he did not get enough opportunities. We have many players, when a player of his quality doesna t get enough games you can understand he is frustrated.
“At some stage too many players is detrimental to the confidence. You need the right numbers. It had nothing to do with his quality. It is just a loan without an option to buy a that means he is back at the end of the season.a
Podolski scored 19 goals in 60 appearances for Arsenal since arriving from Cologne in 2012. But the German failed to find a regular place within Wengera s side and was criticised for his work-rate and inability to adapt to Wenger’s tactics.
