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Podolski and Giroud won't be able to fill Van Persie's shoes for months yet, warns Pires

Published: 06:28 EDT, 2 September 2012 | Updated: 06:28 EDT, 2 September 2012

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Arsenal legend Robert Pires has warned that new boys Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud won't be at their best until at least Christmas.

The Gunners desperately need to fill the goal-scoring void left by Robin van Persie's move to Manchester United, with the Gunners having fired blanks in their opening two games of the Barclays Premier League season.

Arsene Wenger splashed out over £20million this summer on Germany forward Podolski and France striker Giroud, but Pires reckons neither man will be firing on all cylinders for months yet.

New boy: Arsenal's French striker Olivier Giroud

New boy: Arsenal forwards Olivier Giroud (above) and Lukas Podolski (below)

The former France midfielder says that the pace and physicality of English football can be a culture shock for foreign players, calling to mind his own experience of joining the Gunners from Marseille in 2000.

Pires went on to play 238 matches for Arsenal in a glittering career that saw him star in Arsenal's team of 'Invincibles' in the 2003-04 season.

But his introduction to the Premier League was a painful one and he has urged Spurs fans not to expect too much too soon from Podolski and Giroud.

Pires told the Sunday Mirror: 'It takes time to adapt. And that’s especially hard for the attacking players.

'It was four months before I felt comfortable playing in the Premier League in England.

'My first introduction to football in England was [landing on] the grass on the pitch! The game was so much quicker and more physical than I was used to in France.

'It is not easy and you have to adapt. It will be so much faster than the game Giroud and Podolski are used to.

'Not only do you need to become stronger physically, you have to be mentally stronger too. It’s very demanding.'

Pires added that he thought, given time, Podolski and Giroud could be a success for Arsenal.

Legend: Robert Pires has gone down as one of Arsenal's greatest players

'I am optimistic that both Giroud and Podolski can be a success,' he said.

'I have seen Giroud playing in France and he has the qualities you need in England. He is strong and he has good touch. He can be like Van Persie in my opinion.

'Podolski is very mobile around the pitch and he is a Germany international with many caps. They will adapt.

'This is a difficult time for Arsene Wenger. He has lost important players in the last year like Gael Clichy, Cesc Fabregas, Robin van Persie and Alex Song.

'But he has lost players in the past and replaced them and I am sure he will do it again.'