'Arsenal have been over-reliant on Van Persie this season' - Benayoun

The Israeli international conceded the Gunners squad need to do more to help out their skipper and feels the club must do their utmost to keep him at the Emirates next season

Arsenal's Yossi Benayoun has admitted his side have been over-reliant on skipper Robin Van Persiefor goals this season.

The Dutchman notched his 28th league goal on Saturday against Stoke and has scored nearly half of the Gunners' 66 league strikes this season.

Benayoun feels the other members of Arsene Wenger side need to start contributing more but conceded it is too late in the season to make a telling impact.

He told reporters: “We have two games to go and I concede we have been over-relying on him in terms of goal-scoring but that’s difficult to change now until the end of the season.”

The Israeli international has likened the situation to Fernando Torres' free-scoring form during his time on Merseyside and believes the two players are very similar.

Benayoun also feels that Arsenal must do their utmost to keep the Dutchman at the club for the foreseeable future amidst rumours of interest from Real Madrid and Manchester City.

He added: “I was lucky to play with some of the great strikers in my career and Robin at the moment is one of the best in the world.

“It was the same for me when I was with Fernando and he was on fire at Liverpool, scoring a lot of goals. For me, they are at the same level - two of the best strikers in the world. They are very similar because you can look at their record of scoring goals.

“Fernando at Liverpool, he scored in a lot of goals, especially when he had a player like Stevie Gerrard playing behind him helping him.

“With Robin, we know we must give him the ball to the right place and he will score like he has done all season. Everyone knows it’s important to keep him. Each club wants to keep their best players and Robin is our best player.”

Arsenal sign Lukas Podolski

The Gunners have been linked with the German international throughout the season, and his club have now confirmed he will switch to the Premier League this summer

Koln striker Lukas Podolski will join Arsenal in the summer for an undisclosed fee, the Bundesliga club has announced.

n an official statement on the club’s official website confirming the deal, executive board chairman, Claus Horstmann admitted that Koln had offered the player new “competitive” terms on his contract, but with just one year left on his current deal, a transfer was best for the team.

Horstmann said: “We deeply regret his step, which is not a decision against [the club] but for the good of his own career. Koln were prepared to extend Lukas Podolski's contract on the basis of a competitive offer.

“Nonetheless, this early transfer decision offers scope and planning security for the next season. We will jump at this opportunity to reinvest these transfer earnings back into our team's quality and into the promotion of our youth squads.

“Lukas has helped the club in many difficult situations, Lukas has left a mark on Koln's reputation and we feel the need to thank him for numerous great football experiences at Koln.”

The move has long been in the offing, with the striker's former boss Stale Solbakken admitting just two weeks ago that a move to England was on the cards and Gunners' manager Arsene Wenger publicly stating his admiration for the former Bayern Munich player in March.

And Wenger, himself, speaking to Arsenal's official website, spoke of his happiness at securing the signature of the "top-class player": "We are delighted to secure the deal for Lukas and see him as an important part of our future. He is a top-class player, a very good finisher and a proven performer at club and international level. He is a very strong player and will provide us with good attacking options.

"We are happy to have made this signing early and we are looking forward to watching Lukas contribute at the European Championships over the summer, a level where he has already made 95 caps at the age of 26. That is a phenomenal record and just shows his quality as a player.”

Ahead of the move, the 26-year-old has thanked the Koln fans before his summer switch to the Emirates Stadium: “The move to Arsenal provides a great opportunity for me to gain experience in international competitions at a European top club.

“I have made this decision not against Koln but for this great opportunity and the good of my own individual development.

“This was not an easy decision for me at all, as Koln, our fans and the city are something special for me.

“I will always carry Koln in my heart. We need to pool our strengths now and have to be fully focussed on our survival in the Bundesliga.”

The striker, who has notched 43 goals in just 95 games for the Germain international side, spoke of his delight at joining Arsenal on the club's official website: "I’m so happy to be joining Arsenal and to play in the Premier League. Arsenal is one of the top clubs in Europe with a huge history.

"There are many top quality players at Arsenal and the style of football which the team plays is fantastic. I’m proud to become an Arsenal player and am looking forward to playing my first match at Emirates Stadium and doing my best for all the Arsenal fans."

Podolski will stay at Koln for the remainder of the campaign to help their ongoing fight against relegation before moving to England.

Stoke 1-1 Arsenal: Van Persie to the rescue but Gunners miss chance to tighten grip on third

The visitors were unable to break down a resolute Potters defence as both sides settle for a point, meaning Wenger's men miss the chance to pull

Arsenal missed out on the chance to pull away in third place as they had to rely on Robin van Persie to earn them a point in a 1-1 draw with Stoke.

The home side took the lead early in the game as Peter Crouch rose to head home a Matthew Etherington cross, but five minutes later Van Persie earned his side a point with a simple tap-in following an inch-perfect Tomas Rosicky cross.

Both sides made two changes ahead of kick-off with Jermaine Pennant and Dean Whitehead returning for Stoke in place of Wilson Palacios and the injured Andy Wilkinson. The full-back picked up a groin injury against Newcastle so Ryan Shotton dropped back into defence and Pennant took up his place on the right wing.

Arsenal named a starting line-up missing speedsters Theo Walcott and Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain, with Yossi Benayoun and Gervinho were recalled to provide support to the prolific Van Persie in attack.

The visitors were quickly into their stride and created two good opportunities in the opening eight minutes for Benayoun and Van Persie. The Israeli was released by the Dutchman in the sixth minute but his low shot from inside the penalty area lacked power and Asmir Begovic was able to save with an outstretched left hand.

Two minutes later Van Persie had his first sight of goal but he too was denied by Begovic. Tomas Rosicky delivered an inch-perfect cross onto the head of the unmarked striker at the back post but the Bosnian stopper made an excellent reaction save to turn the ball behind.

The Gunners were made to rue those misses in the 10th minute as the home side took the lead with their first attempt on goal. Etherington was found on the left wing and he delivered a the ball right onto the head of Crouch and the striker made no mistake, jumping above his marker and heading into the bottom corner.

However Stoke's lead lasted just five minutes as Arsenal equalised through Van Persie. Rosicky found more space on the left wing and delivered a lovely cross behind the Stoke defence to find the run of the striker and the Dutchman had the simple task of tapping it into the net.

After such a bright start to the game the rest of the opening period was fairly uneventful as both sides struggled to create clear-cut chances and neither goalkeeper was forced into a real save. Gervinho found himself in some good situations but his final touch seemed to always let him down, while at the other end the Arsenal defence coped well with the dangerous balls put into their penalty area by Pennant.

The second half began in lively fashion and five minutes in Arsenal had a great chance to go ahead through Van Persie. A typically neat and flowing move from the Gunners ended up with Bacary Sagna being released down the right wing, his low cross was perfect for the Dutch striker to fire a diving header towards goal but Begovic saved well down to his right.

The home side were really struggling to create any chances as the Arsenal defence remained resolute, and despite plenty of effort and desire the clinical final touch was just eluding them.

Tony Pulis’ decision to introduce Cameron Jerome late in the game for Pennant was met with a few boos from the home crowd but it was nearly a master stroke as the striker found himself with a clear shot at goal, his effort was on target but Szczesny saved well and Arsenal were able to clear.

The Gunners pushed for a late winner, and even threw Marouane Chamakh up front to support Van Persie but Stoke remained resolute and held on for a well-deserved point.

Arsenal striker Van Persie honoured to be named PFA Player of the Year

Arsenal captain Robin van Persie has insisted that it is a "big honour" to be named PFA Player of the Year.

Van Persie has had a magnificent season in front of goal, scoring 34 times in 43 appearances.

The Dutchman was also named in the team of the year alongside Wayne Rooney, and a host of Manchester City and Tottenham players.

He told BBC Sport: If other people are saying it, it is special, but it is even more special if your opponents are saying it.

"If they make up their minds that I'm the best player it is a big honour."

Van Persie also acknowledged his Gunners team-mates for their contribution to his fine campaign and admitted that he had gained confidence as the season had gone on.

"Without them [Arsenal team-mates] I could not have achieved it - for example Theo Walcott, he has given me more than 12 assists and I do really appreciate that," he continued.

"To be fair, when I first went there I wasn't really as confident and I wasn't really sure I could do it.

"It took a bit of time but after a couple of months I slowly realised I could do a good job there."