Lethal Lukas Podolski left his manager Arsene Wenger purring on Friday as his two goals set Arsenal on their way to victory over Coventry City in The FA Cup Fourth Round.
The German forward opened the scoring on 15 minutes with a left-footed strike before he doubled the Gunners advantage with a header on 27 minutes.
Further goals from Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla sealed the victory for Wenger’s side, but it was Podolski who drew the Frenchman’s plaudits.
Arsenal 4-0 Coventry
The FA Cup with Budweiser
Fourth Round Proper
Emirates Stadium
Friday 25 January 2014
Wenger said: “Podolski can score goals – and when you have a goalscoring chance you want him to have it.
“He is a clinical finisher and has an unbelievable shot and backlift. He’s very accurate in his finishing.
“He can score goals when he starts and when he comes on from the bench – he is always dangerous.”
Despite the late goals from substitutes Giroud and Cazorla adding gloss to the scoreline, Wenger admitted the visitors did trouble his side during the second-half.
“Coventry did well,” he said. “In the first-half we were best, but in the second I think we dropped a little bit as some of my players had not played for a long time.
“Podolski can score goals – and when you have a goalscoring chance you want him to have it.”
Arsene Wenger
“Coventry did fight and they had some chances.”
Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain returned to the starting line-up for the first-time since the opening day of the season as he partnered Jack Wilshere in midfield – and Wenger says he saw enough to convince him that the duo could become key for both club and country.
On Oxlade-Chamberlain, Wenger said: “I liked what he did tonight in the centre, especially when we had the ball.
“Defensively he worked hard but I liked him and Jack offensively together. It could be a good partnership in the future with England as well.”
Wenger, who took charge of the Gunners in 1996, handed a first-team debut to Gedion Zelalem – the youngster replacing Oxlade-Chamberlain with 20 minutes remaining – and he became the first player to be born after the manager’s appointment to appear for the first-team.
A smiling Wenger added: “That is more damaging for me than for him.
“It was a good opportunity for him to play and he showed everyone that he isn’t scared or fazed by the occasion. He always wants the ball and you could feel the vision and personality behind his pass.”
