• Premier League

Wenger stands his ground on Rosicky

ESPN staff
October 5, 2012
Tomas Rosicky is yet to feature for Arsenal this season © PA Photos
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Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has denied trying to convince Tomas Rosicky to retire from international football.

Czech Republic manager Michal Bilek has not been able to select his captain for the forthcoming World Cup qualifiers against Malta and Bulgaria with the midfielder still recovering from an Achilles injury sustained at Euro 2012.

Wenger, who says Rosicky is still three weeks away from returning to full training, wants to see the 32-year-old return to action for Arsenal before being released on international duty.

Despite being embroiled in a dispute with France over the fitness of Abou Diaby, the Gunners boss insists he never discouraged any player from representing his national side and pointed to his track record with players receiving their first caps while at Arsenal.

"I never did that," he said when asked if he had encouraged Rosicky to retire from Czech Republic. "Look at the number of players I brought into national teams.

"I face the same question in France, when I look in France at the number of players I got into the national team under me it is quite amazing. I never tried to convince anybody not to go with his national team.

"Tomas Rosicky is a bit like Diaby, they had promised to face the demands of those competitions. As long you cannot get a long time with your club, it is difficult to do the two.

"Tomas Rosicky comes back, he has not played and he got injured at the European Championship. That of course now means he is not fit, he cannot play for the national team, first he has to play for the club."

© ESPN Sports Media Ltd.
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