Arsenal boss rules out Podolski exit

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has ruled out a January exit for German international Lukas Podolski following his Champions League heroics at Anderlecht last night.

The Gunners were trailing by a 1-0 scoreline to the Belgian giants with one minute of normal time left. However, Kieran Gibbs equalled the scoring with an excellent side-footed volley from a Calum Chambers cross from the right.

The World Cup winner gave a fantastic gift on Wenger's 65th birthday as he scored the winner in stoppage time from just six yards following a series of defensive errors from the young Anderlecht outfit.

Wenger has now revealed that the 29-year-old's failure to score goals had led to the speculation of him leaving the club in the New Year.

"We know Podolski can always score. He is frustrated and I understand that of course," The Frenchman said.

"But he's important as well and he showed that tonight and he will be important in the coming months."

"He was never close to leaving in the summer. He has 115 caps for Germany that is not a coincidence, that shows you the quality."

Podolski is contracted at the Emirates until the summer of 2016.