Oliver Bierhoff Urges Lukas Podolski to Seek Wenger Talks and Resolve Arsenal Stand-off

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will have to consider leaving the club if he wants to secure first-team football opportunities, according to Germany general manager Olivier Bierhoff.

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.

The returns of Theo Walcott and Olivier Giroud later in the season are likely to see the 29-year-old's chances diminish further, a prospect that has seen the player admit there "has to be a change" for the sake of his own career.

Although he has been demoted to a squad player having not played beyond the group stage of Germany's World Cup success in the summer, Podolski remains part of Joachim Low's plans.

Former German international Bierhoff understands the forward's current dilemma and has urged him to seek talks with Arsene Wenger sooner rather than later.

"He is a unique lad, and he is an important part of our squad, not only on the pitch," Bierhoff told reporters.

"And I can understand that when he is struggling for minutes, he considers his future because he wants to play football.

"I would advise him to seek talks with the coach and to find a solution which fits both sides. I hope that, should he make a switch, his path will lead him to a club that will give him continuity."

Germany are currently preparing for their European Championship qualifier against the country of Podolski's birth, Poland, before taking on the Republic of Ireland on Tuesday.

Low has a number of injury concerns to contend with ahead of the two games with Marco Reus, Mesut Ozil, Sami Khedira and Bastian Schweinsteiger unavailable, with Andre Schurrle also a doubt after missing training on Wednesday.