Arsenal Football Club News

• Nickname:Gunners
• Founded:1886
• Manager:Arsene Wenger

• Ground:Emirates
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Rosicky upbeat over return

09 Jul 2009 - 13:34:00

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Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky is confident that his injury nightmare is firmly behind him and believes he will be back in action by the autumn.

The Czech Republic international has been sidelined for 18 months with serious hamstring and knee problems.

But with a new season now looming on the horizon, the 28-year-old midfielder is beginning to turn his thoughts towards a return to first-team action.

"I think I will be back in the autumn," he revealed. "According to my fitness coach Tony Colbert, I could have been playing at the end of the (last) season as he thought my fitness was okay.

"I think it was obvious from the training that I was ready to play, if not for 90 minutes.

"But the club decided not to play me. They saw that I was okay, but maybe they just did not want to take the gamble.

"Until I play in a league match I will not be able to tell what my chances are, but when it comes to fitness alone I am in better shape than when I came to Arsenal."