Arsenal-target Lukas Podolski finished a turbulent week by being shown a red card after aiming a second-half headbutt during Cologne's 1-0 victory over Hertha Berlin on Saturday.
Reports in both the British and German media in midweek claimed Podolski is poised to join the Gunners for 13 million euros later this year as the Premier League side aim to beef up their attack.
Gunners boss Arsene Wenger said Friday the deal is not yet complete and the Germany star finished the week by seeing red during his team's win in a bad-tempered Bundesliga match.
Three players were sent off after Cologne midfielder Christian Clemens had scored the first-half winner.
Cologne's Croatia midfielder Mato Jajalo was the first player to be shown a red for a foul on Hertha defender Levan Kobiashvili after 66 minutes.
Georgia's Kobiashvili was then sent off for his second yellow of the game after a tussle with Podolski who aimed a head butt in reply.
Although the blow did not connect, referee Guido Winkmann saw fit to dismiss both players as Podolski received a straight red on 76 minutes.
Podolski will automatically be suspended for next Saturday's game against Hanover, but could receive a longer ban by the German Football Federation (DFB).
Podolski's contract with Bundesliga strugglers Cologne does not expire until June 2013 and he is set to star in June's Euro 2012 tournament having made 95 appearances for Germany.
German daily Bild have previously claimed Cologne want 18 million euros for Podolski, who has scored 16 goals in 21 German league games this season -- more than half of his team's total tally of 31.
Source: AFP
