Lukas Podolski 'Will Leave Arsenal' for Regular First-Team Football

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski has suggested he is ready to request a transfer ahead of the January window having grown frustrated with a lack of opportunities in the first team.

The arrivals of Alexis Sanchez and Danny Welbeck have seen World Cup winner Podolski fail to start a single Premier League game this season, with his only full appearance coming in the Capital One Cup defeat to Southampton.

Brief appearances off the bench against Borussia Dortmund in the Champions League and Aston Villa in the league have frustrated the 29-year-old, and with the returns of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud likely to further reduce his chances, the forward is looking towards a fresh challenge.

"I am a footballer through and through, I am a street footballer and I love competition," Podolski told RTL in quotes reported by London 24.

"And when I don't have that competition every weekend, there has to be a change. We will see about (a possible transfer in January). But I have to at least give it a thought."

Galatasaray, who Arsenal hammered 4-1 in their Champions League group game on Wednesday, were one party interested in signing Podolski during the summer transfer window. However, Wenger, whose forward options were severely limited until the transfer deadline day arrival of Welbeck from Manchester United, sought to retain the German.

Podolski was an unused substitute in each of Germany's knock out stage games en route to their World Cup success in Brazil this summer, but added he is still confident over his role in Joachim Low's squad despite his limited opportunities at club level.

"I have been with Germany a long time and have through phases where I did not play a lot at club level but was convincing with the national team," he added. "That is no problem."

Podolski was named in Germany's squad on Thursday for upcoming European Championship qualifiers against Poland and the Republic of Ireland.