Lukas Podolski has been a frustrated figure at Arsenal this season but the German international is fully focused on helping the Gunners finish fourth in the league, something he feels is imperative to the club.
It would be easy for the Polish born striker and his teamates at The Emirates to be entirley focused on winning a first major trophy for Arsenal in nine years. Podolski started the semi-final victory over Wigan but was the first player substituted in the game, making way for Olivier Giroud and this has become a regualr theme for the former Bayern Munich man this season.
Podolski has admited an annoyance at not lasting the full 90 minutes by saying: "I always come out and of course you cannot be happy when you always come out after 60, 70 minutes." Injuries have hampered the German's second season in England with him only making 14 appearences and six of them being from the subs bench. However, his form has been good with the former Koln man finding the net eight times this season.
With Podolski helping Arsenal to a first cup final in three years the pressure will mount to end the trophy drought and the two time World Cup semi-finalist acknowledges this saying: "We have the chance to win the FA cup this year so maybe it helps the club, us and the boss." The versitaile player added about releasing the constant pressure to win a first trophy since 2005.
However, Podolski feels his side have to remain focused on finnishing in the top four this season which they are now out of because of Everton's win at Sunderland on Saturday. The Gunners have the chance to move back into a Champions League spot with a win over West Ham on Tuesday night and Podolski feels Champions League football is just as important as ending the trophy drought in the FA cup.
The 28-year-old was passionate in his plea that Arsenal must be fourth at the end of the season saying: "The other important thing is to get fourth place back because when you don't play in the Champions League it's a disaster."
Everton do have a game in hand on Arsenal but the Londoners seem to have the easier run in so they might yet achieve both goals this season come May.