Rosicky to miss season start

Gunners ace to sit out opening month of new campaign

By James Pearson & Vasek Kadlec   Last updated: 22nd July 2008   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Rosicky to miss season start

Rosicky: Targets September return

I know I'll miss the start of the club season.

Rosicky
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Arsenal's injured midfielder Tomas Rosicky has confirmed he will miss the start of the new Premier League season.

The Czech Republic ace, who missed out on Euro 2008 through injury, underwent a knee operation in May after missing much of the second half of last term.

The former Borussia Dortmund playmaker had hoped to be fit for The Gunners' Premier League opener against West Brom on August 16th.

More time

However, Rosicky needs more time to recover fully from the injury and now hopes to return in September.

"I know I'll miss the start of the club season," he told Czech daily Sport.

"According to plans I should be back on the field in September."

Rosicky is expected to resume training in the next week, although the 27-year-old is not yet able to practice with a football.

Preparation

"I've been walking without crutches for three weeks and preparing myself to train for two," he added on his personal website.

"The sadness of missing half a year, the surgery and the fact that I missed Euro 2008 has become dull. Coaches don't allow me to think about it.

"The coaches have told me to start with jogging in the next week. Without fitness drills, coach Arsene Wenger will not pick me for a game, I think."