Reliable Tomas Rosicky should be given more playing time at Arsenal

Step forward Tomas Rosicky. The 34-year-old Czech midfielder can be relied upon to be a star performer in the second half of the season as Arsenal chase a place in the top four or some silverware.

Rosicky provides experience, a steady head in midfield and some much needed quality. He can play wide, centrally, deep or in a more advanced midfield role.

In the past few seasons, Rosicky has been one of Arsenal's best players in the second half of the season and has been something of an unsung hero.

In keeping with recent seasons, Rosicky has yet to get much of a look-in and has been massively underused with a bit-part substitute appearance here or there.

Rosicky still has players in front of him like Aaron Ramsey, Mathieu Flamini or Santi Cazorla.

But you do begin to wonder how many more injuries it will take for Rosicky to get a long-overdue run of games in the Premier League.

Arsenal certainly have a few down already. Jack Wilshere is out for three months after undergoing ankle surgery.

Mikel Arteta is also on the casualty list for a few weeks after sustaining another calf injury against Borussia Dortmund.

Arsene Wenger already has a crippling injury list with Mathieu Debuchy out, Yaya Sanogo has got another injury, Mesut Ozil is out for at least another month and Danny Welbeck, Laurent Koscielny, Theo Walcott and Wojciech Szczesny are on their way back.

Arsenal need some experience and they are lacking some depth in the squad as they approach a tough trip to West Brom after a midweek Champions League test when Borussia Dortmund gave them a hard game.

Then they face Southampton next Wednesday and then Stoke away the following weekend. These next three games, with the Premier League table so tight, may go a long way to shaping Arsenal's season and the shake-up in the league.

Arsenal need to get some decent results, some consistency and a rhythm going.

They need a player like Rosicky to really get the team ticking over, to get them playing well and with some nice balance.

It's a demanding stage of the season and now, more than ever, Arsenal will need to rest and rotate, use some of their remaining players and be fresh enough to win some games.

West Brom are always a tough test at the Hawthorns and Arsenal will have to utilise the squad and Rosicky is one player who can really play a part.

Arsenal are getting players back with debut now two weeks away and Koscielny seems as if he is nearing match fitness.

If you put those two French internationals back into the Arsenal lineup they will look so much stronger and maybe -- finally -- Wenger's men will find some form.

They are still not far away from the top four places, just two points going into this weekend off the Champions League.

That is the bare minimum Arsenal fans expect and the midweek win over Dortmund should lift the players while they also played well against Manchester United without getting a result.

Arsenal will miss Wilshere very much as his energy and recent displays have been a great driving force for club and country.

Arteta is also a very good, steady pro who is an excellent captain. Flamini is a midfield warrior but has yet to find form this season and his levels have dropped as compared to last season.

Rosicky can drop deeper and dictate and pass. There's no doubt that Arsenal's squad needs strengthening in January but Rosicky is a good pro, committed, doesn't complain but you could forgive him for getting frustrated.

Arsenal need another win against West Brom and that may mean a defensive reshuffle but Nacho Monreal is the one defender who doesn't deserve to be dropped.

Per Mertesacker has been struggling for form more than Monreal and now, with Koscielny back, you would hope Arsenal's defence may be a bit more secure.

But if Arsenal need someone to turn to in midfield to give them experience, quality and direction then it should be Rosicky.