Arsene Wenger has revealed that new signings Lukas Podolski and Olivier Giroud will not be thrown in at the Premier League deep end.

With captain and top-scorer Robin van Persie expected to leave this summer after announcing that he will not sign an extended deal at the Emirates, the Gunners will be reliant on their new attacking pair to fill the Dutchman's sizeable boots.

However, due to their omission from Arsenal's pre-season tour to Hong Kong, Wenger has hinted that both players will be given time to settle at the club before they are introduced to the thick and fast action of the Premier League.

"Podolski and Giroud may take longer than expected," Wenger said in the Daily Mail.

"I cannot play them in pre-season, so I will ease them in the Premier League."

Podolski moved to the Gunners from Cologne for £10.9m, while Giroud arrived for £12m from French champions Montpellier.