Arseblog News waited with baited breath to see which of Lukas Podolski and Tomas Rosicky would comment first on their lack of game time at Arsenal having been called up by their respective national teams.

In the end it was the German press who got their man first, but sure enough the Czech media weren’t far behind. Poor Poldi and Tomas, not an Interlull goes by without the two of them being hounded by journalists for a quote about Arsene Wenger’s pesky team selection policy…

Last time out Tomas – something of a Czech national treasure – got a bit fed up answering the same old guff. This time he spoke a bit more openly, claiming he’s in perfectly good shape despite recently turning 34-years-old.

“I’m not sure what’s going on,” he told Denik.cz. “I understand that I am 34-years-old and that it probably plays a role whether I like it or not. That’s without a doubt. However, I’m not in physical decline.

“When I played for the national team against Holland I ran 12km and according to the tests at Arsenal I’m in the top five in terms of speed.”

“We are on good terms, so I do not really know what it is. It is purely a coach’s decision. It’s not my decline. My health is fine too. Of course I want to play, but there’s not much I can do about it.”

Asked whether a tactical shift at the Emirates could be a reason behind him starting only one game this season, Rosicky continued:

“It’s possible. Compared to last season we’ve changed the system and again have started playing 4-4-2. The coach is trying to find a system that best suits the players, and vice versa.

“I’m not in this alone, there are other players in a similar boat. When we do get a chance it’s harder for us to get into our rhythm.

“So far this season has been disappointing for us. We haven’t played well and when I’ve played I’ve not been at the forefront of things.”

With a couple of months until the transfer window opens again, Rosicky was also asked about the possibility of a move to pastures new…or indeed old.

“It is still far away. There are still two months and we’ll see what happens when the winter transfer market window opens. So far, I’ve not thought about it at all.

“Sparta [Prague] will for me always be something I’m asked about because I’m a huge fan, but at the moment it’s not on the cards.”

You’d hardly say Tomas is throwing his toys out of the pram, he just seems very down at the fact he’s not being afforded the opportunities that previous years have thrown his way. Having experienced all manner of highs and lows since joining in 2006 he’s well equipped to cope, but you suspect he’ll be giving serious thought to a bumper contract elsewhere if things don’t pick up before the end of the season. For what it’s worth, we don’t see him leaving before the summer…