Three Arsenal players in three Munster shirts... Why are Podolski, Cazorla and Ozil keeping tabs on the Heineken Cup?



The Arsenal trio of Lukas Podolski, Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil showed which rugby team they will be supporting in the Heineken Cup this weekend.

The Gunners will take on Manchester City at lunchtime on Saturday but they may have one eye on Munster's game against Perpignan at 3.40pm.

Gary O'Driscoll, the current Arsenal doctor, worked with Ireland and also the Lions. Former Ireland hooker Jerry Flannery - who was forced to retire last year - and countryman Johnny O'Connor are in the Arsenal strength and conditioning team.

Rugby time: Lukas Podolski tweeted a picture with Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil wearing Munster shirts

Arsenal's cause this weekend will be helped by the return of Podolski, who has been absent with injury since August, but it now thought to be close to first-team football after training with the squad this week.

And Podolski can't hide his excitement with regard to the prospect of teaming up with compatriot Ozil in the Arsenal frontline: 'He [Ozil] has done very well, he scores goals, everybody knows he passes the ball very well and he makes a lot of assists, I think the most in the season. He is an amazing player. I am ready to play with him. I hope we two Germans can play and score together.

'We are doing well this season so far. We have the quality. And when we fight, and when we stay together, we can fight for the title. We are a great team.'

Ready: All three Germans, including Per Mertesacker may play against Manchester City

Piggy in the middle: Cazorla trying to get the ball off his Arsenal team-mates



