Tomas Rosicky says there were times he feared his career might be over as he struggled to regain fitness while recovering from the tendon injury that has kept him out of the team since January last year.

The midfielder is also determined to play again before the end of the season and admits that his spell on the sidelines has been frustrating.

"I had thoughts I would never play again," he said. "I am much better. The bad things are behind me, there were times when I could not see the light at the end of the tunnel. I would take two steps forwards and three back.

"I now have a groin injury, but after the long-term problems with my knee, which was a very rare injury, I know it will be all right because I was already doing almost everything on the pitch," he continued. "I am happy I am at the end now and can say that I am boiling inside to play again. I cannot wait."

There was further good news for Arsenal as Emmanuel Adebayor was deemed fit enough to play for his country by his club manager Arsène Wenger. The striker has been out since the beginning of February with a hamstring injury and was not scheduled to be back in action until after the international break.

However, the 25-year-old travelled to Africa ahead of Togo's World Cup qualifier against Cameroon and Wenger says he has "no problem" if Adebayor plays.

"Adebayor has gone away with Togo. Will he play or not? He will have tests. For us, he was ready to play," Wenger said. "Ideally it is good for us and for him to have a game."

There were reports that Adebayor was being played against Wenger's will but the Frenchman insisted that was not the case. "There is no problem," he said. "I had a meeting with their manager and we knew he would be ready for this weekend, whether it was for us or for Togo."

Adebayor confirmed: "My boss gave me the permission to come here to play for my country and if I did not have his blessing I would not be here."