The Netherlands booked their place in the Euro 2024 quarter-finals after a superb 3-0 victory over Romania, and Arsenal fans have noticed one thing.
Despite underwhelming at times in the group stage, The Netherlands produced a dominant display in the round of 16 to set up a quarter-final clash with Turkey.
Whilst several Arsenal stars have underwhelmed at Euro 2024 after performing superbly after Mikel Arteta, it is the opposite story for one Liverpool player.
Attacker Cody Gakpo struggled to get going under Jurgen Klopp, but he has been outstanding at the Euros so far, and was the best player on the pitch in the victory over Romania, with Alan Shearer praising his “standout” performance.
Gakpo opened the scoring with a fierce strike before assisting Donyell Malen for the second goal, and Arsenal fans have now compared him with Lukas Podolski for two key reasons.
Arsenal fans compare Cody Gakpo with Lukas Podolski after Euro 2024 masterclass
Podolski is a renowned name in football, having enjoyed great success with the German National Team over a long period, but the attacker was overall underwhelming at club level, with his performance levels for Germany exceeding those he reached with Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
Fans have compared Gakpo to Podolski, both for the difference in performances between club and country, as well as the uncertainty over his best position.
“Cody Gakpo is one of those anomaly players who play better for country than club. The poster child of that was Lukas Podolski,” one fan posted on X.
“Cody Gakpo is this era’s Podolski… An excellent and astute International player,” another added.
“Gakpo might be one of those Podolski types who looks better for the national team than club side,” one stated.
Podolski’s shot power was a special attribute of his, and Gakpo’s strike into the bottom corner also drew comparisons with the German.
“Was always average and frustrating in my mind but his ball striking and finishing always made me think we could get something out of him,” one Arsenal fan stated of the German’s shot power.
“Gakpo is like a right footed Robben with the shot power of prime Podolski,” one fan even claimed.
How Lukas Podolski ultimately failed to deliver with Arsenal
Arsene Wenger signed Podolski from FC Cologne in 2012, and the Germany star joined alongside Olivier Giroud and Santi Cazorla to try and replace Robin van Persie in attack.
Podolski was a popular player amongst fans, but there was always a dilemma with him. By the time he arrived at Arsenal, he lost a bit of pace, and this made him unsuited to a role on the left wing.
His lack of physicality compared to Giroud meant that a centre-forward role was also questionable, and no one knew how to get the best out of Podolski.
His ball striking was still world-class, with goals against West Ham and Montpelier particularly sticking out, and scored 31 times in 82 Arsenal appearances, whilst also providing 15 assists.
The arrival of Alexis Sanchez in 2014 meant that opportunities for Podolski would become limited, and he moved to Inter Milan on loan in January 2015, just two and a half years after he initially joined Arsenal.
Despite this, he was a player who ended his career with 130 Germany caps, 49 International goals and a World Cup to his name, and is fondly remembered for his exploits at World Cups and European Championships.
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