Arsenal striker Lukas Podolski has insisted that the Gunners can challenge for the Premier League title this season.

The 27-year-old, who joined from Koln in the summer, has also vowed to hit the ground running in the new season.

"The Premier League has five or six teams who can play for the title and we are one of them. We really want to win this trophy and I hope I can score a lot of goals and make some assists to help the club in the Premier League," he told the club's official website.

"When you are a footballer you must be ready - you're on the pitch to win. Whether it is against Koln or against Sunderland, you are a footballer and you must be ready to win matches."

Podolski has 101 German caps to his name.