Arsenal hero Ray Parlour is excited about their deal for FC Cologne star Lukas Podolski.

Arsenal are close to finalising a £10.9million swoop for Cologne forward Podolski, 26, on a four-year deal worth £120,000-a-week.

And Parlour insists making the German hitman one of Arsenal's highest earners will be worth it.

"Arsene Wenger is desperate to win some silverware after a barren but unlucky few years and if he can get Podolski, which looks likely, it will be a great signing," he told the Daily Star Sunday.

"He is still young and can learn from Wenger and the players around him but he has international class and I think Van Persie's game will benefit as a result.

"To some extent Van Persie needs to have the pressure of being the main man who gets all the goals taken from him. Podolski will be eager to do that.

"I only wish Wenger had managed to get him in the January transfer window."