Podolski in line for Arsenal starting spot

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that Lukas Podolski has a ‘very good chance’ of starting the Premier League opener against Sunderland.

The Germany international scored two goals against Cologne, the side whom he left to move to England this summer, on Sunday and his new boss has been impressed with the forward’s pre-season form.

Wenger did admit that Podolski had not reached full fitness after an extended break following Euro 2012 but nevertheless backed the 27-year-old to make an instant impact.

“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 percent physically. The running is still missing a little bit but we will sort that out. We know that he can score goals.”

Captain Robin van Persie’s status for the game remains in doubt following the continued speculation over his future at the club.

That could mean a central striking role for Podolski, but the former Bayern Munich star featured to the left of fellow new arrival Olivier Giroud at the RheinEnergie Stadion.

Meanwhile, Wenger insisted on Monday that there has been no enquiry from Barcelona regarding the availability of midfielder Alex Song.

The Cameroon international is reportedly a target of new Barca boss Tito Vilanova, but Wenger has moved to quash the speculation surrounding his future.

“There’s nothing going on with Song,” Wenger said. “There’s nothing in that.

“Song has three years (on his) contract, he’s not in the same situation as Robin van Persie.

“In Spain the newspapers are not really serious. We’ve had the experience of that. We’ve never had any contact with anybody from Barcelona.”