Arsenal winger Theo Walcott says he used teammate Tomas Rosicky as a role-model as he battled to return from injury earlier this season.

Walcott admits this campaign has been the most frustrating of his young career.

"At first it is very hard, but if you put a timescale to your injuries and you don't get there, don't match it, you get even more disappointed," he told the Telegraph.

"At first I was doing that. I told myself I'll be back this game, but I wasn't and that hurts. I watched [his Arsenal colleague] Thomas Rosicky out for 18 months, coming in every day, very mentally strong, getting on with his rehab work, always smiling and business-like, and that was an example. I learned to come in, smile every day. I had been miserable at times, but that makes it worse, makes it drag on for so long."