Lukas Podolski glad to be back for Arsenal

Arsenal forward Lukas Podolski has said that four months on the sidelines with a torn hamstring has been hard on him, but he is happy to be back playing for the Gunners.

The German international sustained the injury during Arsenal's 2-0 win over Fenerbahce in August.

He made his return to Premier League action by coming off the bench to score the third in a 3-1 victory over West Ham United on Boxing Day.

"When you are out for a long time it is not easy, but I'm happy to be back," the Daily Mail quotes the 28-year-old as saying. "I've never had muscle problems before so it was a new experience and not easy.

"I worked hard and I trained hard. When you sit on the bench or in the stadium or on the couch at home it is not easy to watch. You don't have the feeling with the team and in the dressing room, but that is the way it is in football, so I am all the more happy to be back.

"It took a long time. Every morning you come in, you have treatment, you work to get fit while the others are working outside. It is not easy for the head. But this is the way it is and I am young enough to play a lot of matches."

Podolski scored a brace in a 3-1 win at Fulham in the second game of the season.