Arsene Wenger has revealed the reason why Lukas Podolski is regularly substituted in the Premier League.

The Germany international has had an impressive first season in English football, scoring 14 times in all competitions.

While he can also play through the middle, Podolski has primarily been deployed on the left flank and Wenger says this is a big part of why he so often gets taken off.

“He had a good start [to the season], a very strong start,” he said. “After that, he suffered a little bit physically and mentally because in Germany they have a break in mid-season.

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“We have seen with many German players that when they come in for the first season, mentally they suffer a little bit. Now he has recovered and is getting stronger again.

“On the flanks is the most demanding position. Physically, especially in England, it's very tough.

“He's a striker. Many times we were in a position where we were in a winning position in the final 20 minutes and then I take a bit more of a guarantee defensively and take him out of the team sometimes.”