Midfielder to miss big kick off

Arsenal have suffered a blow with the news Tomas Rosicky will miss the start of the season with an Achilles problem.

The 31-year-old has been forced to undergo an operation after picking up the injury at Euro 2012 and he will be missing when the Gunners kick off the season against Sunderland. As well as the injury to Rosicky, Aaron Ramsey is away preparing for the Olympics with Team GB, Bacary Sagna is still recovering from a broken leg, while Lukas Podolski and Per Mertesacker have only just returned to training following Euro 2012. With Jack Wilshere still on the sidelines and Robin van Persie's future up in the air, it means Wenger is missing a good portion of his squad as they try and prepare for the big kick off. "It's a little bit of a concern we have players missing but there's not much choice," Wenger admitted. "After a World Cup or the European Championships you're always in the same situation. The good thing for us is that the other clubs have the same problem. "You want the players to do well in the Euros but you know those who go far take a while to recover and to get back their focus at the start of the season. "You know you have to focus a bit more on the other players."