Arsenal’s Lukas Podolski is a hero in Germany. At just 27 he has earned 107 caps, scoring 44 goals as well as beating Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi to the World Cup’s Young Player of the tournament on home soil in 2006.

Yet at club level there has been a perception that he was a flop at the highest level. That impression has some basis. After coming through at former Bundesliga giants FC Koln, ‘Poldi’ moved to the country’s biggest club Bayern Munich just before the 2006 World Cup.

But it was not a happy time in Bavaria for the Polish-born forward, getting off to a bad start after suffering a serious injury following a training ground tackle from Dutch hard man Mark Van Bommel.

After slipping down the pecking order at Bayern, he finally returned to FC Koln in 2009.

But when Arsenal came calling last April there were doubts whether he could live up to his name at big club.

Fine start

But in contrast he has made a fine start to his first season at the Emirates. Playing on the left wing – where he also plays for Germany – he has scored eight times and provided nine assists – although fellow new boys Santi Cazorla and Olivier Giroud have grabbed the bulk of the headlines.

The German international has provided a direct approach and with a cross accuracy rate of 30 per cent has by far the most accomplished deliverer of especially when compared directly with the woeful Gervinho.

He also provides greater defensive support. His physical strength has helped him complete three out of every four tackles, attributes that Gervinho does not possess.

Poldolski has also combined well with Giroud and Cazorla in a varied attacking unit with his sumptuous volley against Montpellier - courtesy of a Giroud pass - in the Champions League a clear example of how quickly a working relationship has been struck.

And that competition could provide some measure of revenge for Podolski when he faces Bayern Munich at the Emirates on Tuesday night.