Rosicky ready for Gunners return

Arsenal's Tomas Rosicky, who has been out of action since January 2008, claims to be making good progress after his injury nightmare.

The 28-year-old Czech midfielder has been sidelined for nearly 18 months by a combination of hamstring and knee injuries, which have proved hard to treat.

Rosicky resumed light training with Arsenal in May and is hopeful of returning to first-team action during the opening stages of the new campaign.

"I think I will be back in the autumn." Rosicky told Czech newspaper Sport. "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."

Rosicky was just one of Arsenal's many high profile absentees last season and the Czech ace is confident that with a fully fit squad Arsenal will challenge for major honours next season.

He added: "I am missing the competition.

"Playing alongside Cesc Fabregas and Theo Walcott makes you feel comfortable and I think that I will quickly forget that I have been out for a while.

"Now that I have recovered, I am a new option for the manager.

"We have a strong team capable of moving mountains in all competitions."