Germany striker Lukas Podolski will join Arsenal from Cologne for the start of next season for an undisclosed fee.

The 26-year-old international began his career at Cologne in 2002 and joined Bayern Munich four years later before returning to his first club in 2009.

Podolski, who has 95 caps, said: "I'm so happy to be joining Arsenal and the Premier League. They are one of the top clubs in Europe with a huge history.

"There are many top-quality players at Arsenal and their style is fantastic."

As anyone who has seen Kevin Bridges's "Chad Hogan vs an Empty" routine will know, there is no such thing as a typical party. They can range from blissfully happy affairs in which paper-cup clutching teenagers scream "spring break, woo-hoo!" in the company of a hip band to dark, frightful evenings that end with a stranger walking out of the front door with the family microwave and somebody else's coat. The latter should always be avoided but, as Manchester City supporters have discovered, it is sometimes impossible to stop good times turning bad.

Sunday's 1-0 defeat at Arsenal has all but ended City's hopes of winning the Premier League title and, as such, the atmosphere is likely to be rather subdued at the Etihad Stadium this evening for the visit of West Bromwich Albion. Where once there was great excitement and joyous anticipation among the home crowd, there will now mainly be frustration and a sense of what might have been. Chad has left the building and been replaced by a man blowing smoke into a labrador's face.

Arsenal are closing in on a transfer that could help secure Robin van Persie’s future at the club after claims they have agreed terms with Germany striker Lukas Podolski.

Sportsmail revealed earlier this month that Arsenal were eager to show Van Persie their ambitions by bidding for Podolski and Germany team-mate Mario Gotze.

Manchester United midfielder Ryan Giggs has signed a one-year extension to his contract at Old Trafford.

The 38-year-old, who has never played for another club, will now stay with the Barclays Premier League champions until the end of the 2012-13 season.

Real Madrid will make an offer for Robin van Persie in the summer as they join the £30million race for the Arsenal striker.

Manchester City and Barcelona are also keen on the Dutchman, 28, who has 16 months left on his Arsenal contract and is yet to commit to another deal.

Shanghai Shenhua are trying to sign Stoke City defender Matthew Upson, while talks continue about Didier Drogba joining his former Chelsea strike partner Nicolas Anelka at the Chinese club.

Gary Cahill is due to undergo a medical at Chelsea on Saturday with a view to completing his move from Bolton over the weekend, it is understood.

The England defender was in London overnight and looks set to end two weeks of uncertainty over his future by joining the Blues. It is more than a fortnight since Bolton accepted a £7million bid from Chelsea for their prize asset, whose contract expires at the end of the season.