Podolski to return to training at Arsenal

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski will return to training this week

after more than three months out with a left hamstring injury,

handing the Premier League leaders an alternative up front for the

busy festive period.

Olivier Giroud has been shouldering the attacking burden for

Arsenal since Podolski was hurt during the Champions League playoff

win over Fenerbahce at the end of August.

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger says Podolski will be back in

training after Wednesday’s match against Hull, adding that ”it

will take at least a week with normal training to consider him fit

for the squad.”

The game against Hull is the first of eight matches in a 28-day

span through to Jan. 1 for Arsenal, which leads the league by four

points after 13 games.