Wenger won't rush Rosicky

Arsene Wenger has vowed not to rush Tomas Rosicky on his return from a knee injury and risk him spending another period on the sidelines.

After a series of setbacks in his battle for fitness, the Arsenal midfielder made his first Premier League appearance since January 2008 in yesterday's 4-2 defeat at Manchester City.

For someone who has been out for so long, Rosicky's contribution as a second-half substitute was remarkable.

The 28-year-old created the chance for Robin van Persie to draw the Gunners level, then he scored a late consolation himself as Arsenal tried to claw their way back into a game they looked certain to win for long spells.

After coming through almost an hour of his country's World Cup qualifying victory over San Marino in midweek, Rosicky must now be pushing for a starting spot when Arsenal open their Champions League group phase campaign against Standard Liege on Wednesday.

But Wenger has no intention of asking too much of Rosicky. He would prefer to play a waiting game rather than have the former Borussia Dortmund star break down again.

'It is good to have Tomas back but he is not completely fit to play in top-level competition yet,' said Wenger.

'He has quality. We know that. He is a top-class player and we have missed him for 18 months.

'We have rushed him back before and he has had setbacks, so it is important to be patient and not put too much pressure on him.'

Rosicky's return was the high point of another frustrating weekend in Manchester for the Gunners.

In the space of a fortnight either side of the international break, Arsenal's promising start to the campaign has been derailed. At Old Trafford, Wenger felt Arsenal were the better team yet they ended up getting beaten by Manchester United. And it was the same at Eastlands, where City continued their 100% start.

'Manchester City negotiated the turning points a bit better than us,' conceded Wenger.

'Defensively, we were a bit shaky and if you make mistakes at that level, you pay for it.'

The Gunners defence have started the season pretty well, however, and Wenger has said he discuss a new contract with defender William Gallas before the end of the year.

The 32-year-old Frenchman is in the final season of a four-year deal and is free to talk to other clubs in January. His future at the Emirates Stadium looked uncertain last season after some outspoken comments about his team-mates led to him being stripped of the captaincy.

However, his partnership with new signing Thomas Vermaelen at the centre of the Gunners defence has so far flourished this season and Wenger may look to extend the former Chelsea man's stay in north London.

'I will assess William's contract in December but the signs are good for him,' the manager was quoted as saying in the News of the World.

'Gallas and Vermaelen look comfortable together and are good for each other. It is sometimes difficult to know who makes the other one good.'