Johan Djourou is desperate to break back into the Arsenal first team.
Djourou completes a quartet of talented centre backs but he knows he has to get fit and, more importantly, stay fit before he can make his own contribution.
"It's not easy," Djourou told Arsenal TV Online's 'Spotlight' programme. "I know what I can do and I proved it the season before last when I wasn't injured.
"It's frustrating because you want to play when you're still young. When you're 20 or 21 you want to play as much as possible - now I'm 23 and that hasn't changed. I still want to play and the thing is now I have to stay fit to be able to do that.
"I've always had big competition in my position. I had a good run, I played 30 games in a season which was great, but then I've had injuries that always stop me.
"You have to stay strong. If I didn't have the ability I wouldn't be here. I'm coming back from a long-term injury - I know myself and I know that I will push through. To do that I have to train hard."