Lukas Podolski is ready to fill the gap in the Arsenal attack left by the summer departure of Robin van Persie to Manchester United.

After scoring his first goal for the club in Sunday’s 2-0 Premier League victory at Liverpool, the German international striker announced he was ready to be the club’s new match-winner.

Podolski told the club’s official website, www.arsenal.com: “When I’m on the pitch, I can win matches.”

He added: “I’m very happy to score my first goal at Liverpool with their amazing fans and stadium. I’m also very happy that we won and got the three points. You must always work hard in matches. You must fight, you must run and you must score goals.”

Podolski’s goal was also Arsenal’s first of the season following scoreless draws against Sunderland and Stoke City.

He said: “We played very well in the first two matches. But when you don’t have the three points, the media write that you play no good.

“But I think we played very well – we just didn’t score a goal in those two matches. This is the Premier League and you must fight and run. This is my style of football – I like the style of Arsenal.”