Rosicky return put back

The Czech international has already been out for over 10 months due to a complex tendon injury affecting his left knee and hamstring.

His last match came in January, when he played just nine minutes of an FA Cup game against Newcastle.

It had been hoped that the 27-year-old would play this month after undergoing his latest bout of surgery in Germany but he will be out until spring.

"The recovery period was slower than expected," said manager Arsene Wenger.

"He's doing rehab at the moment. He's back here on December 17 and then hopefully we can start to work with him. But it's a long-term prospect - maybe March at the earliest."

Wenger said that striker Eduardo da Silva will play for the reserves at home to Portsmouth on December 16.

The Brazilian-born Croatian has been out since February after suffering a compound leg fracture.