Former Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski said he "loved" playing in the Premier League, and has backed Leicester City to sustain their title challenge this season.
The Galatasaray man spent two-and-a-half seasons at the Emirates after moving from FC Koln in the Bundesliga in the summer of 2012, scoring 31 goals in 82 appearances for Arsene Wenger's men.
Podolski was named to world champ Germany's squad for upcoming friendlies against England and Italy, and reflected on his time in North London.
"I still have good contacts with Arsenal, those were three nice years for me professionally and personally. I always look at the games and results, and wish them good luck," Podolski told www.sc.qa. "But Leicester City are first and it is not undeserved. Anyone who is up there deserves it.
"We will see if they can keep it up until the end, they have had the big advantage of concentrating entirely on the league week in week out right through the season. As league leaders, they have the advantage now while the others are chasing.
"Of course, they can win the league. Everyone always thought they would fall off at some stage, but they are still up there and are winning games, playing good football without any pressure and that's why they deserve it.
"That is the exciting part of English football; there are always four or five teams up there challenging to win it, and the first can lose a match against the last team. I loved to play in the Premier League."
Podolski, who has made 126 appearances for his country, also spoke about the experience of having a World Cup on home soil.
Germany hosted the 2006 edition of the tournament. It was an event Podolski, who was part of the team who won the 2014 title in Brazil, called his best experience as a footballer.
Podolski said: "Every tournament and every international game played gives you additional experience which brings you forward, both on the pitch and off it, but there is nothing more special than playing a World Cup at home.
"Germany 2006 was my most beautiful experience, even if we won the title in 2014. The World Cup in 2006 as a package was the best thing which I have experienced -- the weather was right, the stadiums were full in every game, the atmosphere was outstanding.
"When we drove to training or games, we drove through masses of flag waving fans, with all cars decorated with scarves or flags. It was something very special. It was also a tournament which changed the course of German football, because from there on our quality and our performances changed."