Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger says the club is being careful with Tomas Rosicky's return.

Rosicky - with just 61 first-team appearances since joining from Borussia Dortmund in May 2006 - has been out of action since January with a damaged hamstring and underwent surgery in Germany last month after his recovery was slower than expected.

"We have to assess him to see how he has progressed and he should start training slowly again this week," Wenger said.

"First it will be a build up of his strength to get him outside and run a little bit at the beginning of January if it all goes well."