Arsenal Striker Lukas Podolski Open to Return to Cologne

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski has revealed he would like to return to Cologne after his boyhood club won promotion back to the Bundesliga.

The Germany international was in attendance last week as his former club defeated Bochum to seal their return to the top flight of German football after suffering relegation in 2011.

The club's return sparked jubilant celebrations at the Rhein Energie Stadion and Podolski admits that if he were to return to the Bundesliga there would only be one destination for him.

"The Bundesliga is one of the best leagues in the world and therefore in principle always interesting," Podolski said, the Times report. "In the Bundesliga, my thoughts naturally turn first to Cologne. That is much more than a club for me, this is my home."

A return to Cologne would be Podolski's third spell at the club. Having emerged from their youth academy the forward left to join Bayern Munich in 2006 but was unable to hold down a first team place and made a much celebrated return to his former club in 2009. Their return to 2. Bundesliga, despite Podolski's 18 goals in 29 appearances, paved the way for a move to north London in 2012.

The 28-year-old has enjoyed a prolific couple of weeks for the Gunners having netted four goals in his last two appearances against Hull City and West Ham United as the club have regained control in the race for the final Champions League spot.

The win over the Hammers was just the second time this season the German has finished a game for the Gunners, a situation that has frustrated the forward.

"I play, and, in the last games, I always come out and of course you cannot be happy when you always go out after 76, 70 minutes. Of course I am not always happy always being substituted," Podolski said earlier this month.

"It's the decision of the boss. It's not always easy when you play for a big club but of course I am not happy to always come out and watch from outside. You cannot be happy with this situation."