Podolski and Giroud to make Arsenal debuts, sort of

Good news, everyone! Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud are going to make their Arsenal debuts this week. Of course, the game they'll be playing is taking place in Malaysia, and isn't against an actual team, and counts for nothing. But still! New guys playing in Arsenal shirts!

According to Arsene Wenger (via Arseblog News), the pair will most likely play against a Malaysia XI in Kuala Lampur on the first stop on Arsenal's second annual March Across Asia. At the very least, both are confirmed to be participating in the Asian tour, which will no doubt thrill Asian Gooners.

Here's exactly what the manager said:

The Malaysian fans are a pretty lucky bunch, I can say that much. Not only will they be able to catch all their favourite players in action, they will also be the first in the world to watch our new signings Podolski and Giroud take to the pitch in the Arsenal jersey.

All joking aside, this is the kind of thing that I get legitimately excited about as a fan. For some reason, seeing the new players wear the Arsenal shirt in anger for the first time is just very fun, and a great primer for the start of the new season. If this were baseball I'd go with some cliches about things blooming and the world springing forth new life as the season begins, but football starts in autumn when everything is getting cold and dying, so that analogy doesn't work.