Arsenal could still land Robert Lewandowski if Pep Guardiola pens a new contract

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Arsenal enquired about Bayern Munich's Robert Lewandowski this summer
The Gunners were rebuffed by Bundesliga club who were unwilling to sell
Striker scored five goals in nine minutes against Wolfsburg on Tuesday
There are reports he might be surplus to Pep Guardiola's requirements
Lewandowski doesn't look like player Guardiola would specifically request

Published: 10:20 EST, 23 September 2015 | Updated: 12:38 EST, 23 September 2015

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When Arsenal made discreet inquiries about signing Robert Lewandowski this summer the answer that came back was unequivocal: he would not be moving because Bayern would not sell him.

And that ought to tell you that, despite the swirl of intrigue over the Poland striker's relationship with his boss Pep Guardiola, Lewandowski is highly valued at the Bundesliga champions.

However, the question has always been whether it is Pep who rates Lewandowski so much or the club hierarchy?

Robert Lewandowski is in high spirits following his record-breaking exploits for German giants Bayern Munich

Bayern Munich's Lewandowski scores the first of his record-breaking five goals in nine minutes on Tuesday

Manager Pep Guardiola was left with a stunned smile after Lewandowski's five-goal haul at the Allianz Arena

On Tuesday night, at least, we can assume that Guardiola was genuinely impressed. The look of astonishment on the Catalan's face as he brought his hands to head in disbelief to acknowledge Lewandowski's extraordinary five goals in eight minutes 57 seconds after coming off the bench was a demonstrable mark of appreciation.

Lewandowski broke all kinds of records: quickest hat-trick in the Bundesliga, quickest four-goal haul in the Bundesliga and - yes, no surprise here - quickest man to score five goals in the Bundesliga.

In fact he was the first sub ever to score five goals in the Bundesliga and indeed any of the major European leagues and it was the quickest five goals scored by a player in the UK, Spain, Germany and Italy.

Little wonder he was in demand from Arsenal over the summer and how much happier might their fans have been had they spent the £40-£50m which was allocated for his signing. Cech and Lewandowski would have been a decent summer's business.

Arsenal, of course, had been encouraged to make their inquiry on the basis of those persistent stories that Lewandowski might be surplus to Guardiola's requirements. He was on the bench on Tuesday and though he is generally a starter at Bayern, there is always that nagging feeling that the coach prefers a Thomas Muller or Mario Gotze type at centre forward.

Arsene Wenger made discreet inquiries about signing Lewandowski this summer but was rebuffed

Petr Cech was the only major signing for Arsenal this summer- much to the frustration of some fans

Lewandowski celebrates after scoring his second a minute later with a low drilled shot from edge of the area

Not for him the traditional No 9; Guardiola's penchant is for false nines, searching deeper for the ball and contributing to the tiki-taka build-up.

When in November 2013 Lewandowski announced that he would be joining Bayern at the end of the season, it was deal which had initially been brokered by club officials. Guardiola was already coach at the club so must have approved but the pair never seemed a natural fit, more an arranged marriage.

Fondness has had to develop over time as they appreciate their respective qualities but still, Lewandowski doesn't look like the player Guardiola would specifically request.

The 27-year-old completed his hat-trick in the space of just four minutes - the fastest in Bundesliga history

Lewandowski wheels away after scoring his side's fourth goal as Wolfsburg keeper Diego Benalgio looks on

The forward celebrates after scoring his fifth goal in the space of nine second-half minutes against Wolfsburg

Indeed, the centre forward seems to be a breed in danger of extinction. Lewandowski has all of the traditional attributes. His control is good, he holds the ball up well and he will work hard running into space.

But his fifth goal - a quite stunning volley from the edge of the box - indicates that there is much more to him than that. In short, he would be ideal in the Premier League. And how much would Arsenal, Manchester United and even Manchester City and Chelsea want him now?

What is mystifying is why Arsenal, and others, didn't take a chance on him earlier? When he fired Borussia Dortmund to the double in 2011-12, he scored 22 goals in the Bundesliga and then hit a hat-trick in the German Cup Final as Dortmund beat Bayern 5-2.

The electronic scoreboard at the Allianz Arena shows the times of all of Lewandowski's second-half goals

A happy but shell-shocked Guardiola was head in hands and didn't know where to look on Tuesday night

Bayern Munich team-mate Thomas Muller poses with Lewandowski following his five-star display

Then he was said to be a raw and inconsistent. He was 21 years old and perhaps the reluctance to make a £25m move for a player of mere potential is understandable. Arsenal's finances then were not what they are now.

Equally, once a player is doing well in the Bundesliga, it is hard to get ahead of Bayern Munich in the queue for his services. And, at the time, Arsenal were more focussed on Dortmund's Gotze, who, predictably, also eventually moved to Bayern. However, if there was window of opportunity it was in that 2011-12 season.

Perhaps Arsenal's best hope of landing him now would be if Guardiola were to sign a long-term deal at Bayern which might prompt Lewandowski to move somewhere more in need of his kind of player. Right now though, it's hard to see anyone letting him go anywhere.