Lukas Podolski isn't getting carried away with his start at Arsenal.

Arsenal take on leaders Chelsea this lunchtime in fifth place - a complete contrast to last year's nightmare start.

Podolski told The Sun: "You come to a new club and a new league and you never know how it will start or how the team plays. The style of football is the kind I like. One or two touches. Quick passing. Fast at the front.

"But I have only played six matches. It is too early to say 'Podolski is a hero. He's the best player and Arsenal are great'. I don't like this.

"After 20 matches and we have lost six matches everyone will be saying 'Arsenal is rubbish' and 'Podolski is rubbish'. We must wait.

"We are good now. We have nine points. But I signed for four years - not five or six matches. The English league is the best in the world. You have the best teams, good football to play, good fans, new stadiums.

"The stadiums are always full. It's not like in Italy. You have Champions League matches out there and there are 20,000 people.

"I spoke with Per Mertesacker about Arsenal but it was my own decision and I had to be happy with this. I had only come to England once, playing with Bayern Munich at Fulham.

"When I arrived at Arsenal for the first time, it was like a normal day. Wenger wasn't waiting with flowers for me. It was not like 'Podolski, you are here!'"