English FA Premiership: Jon Brodkin finds that the Czech Republic and Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky has settled in quickly in London

If Tomas Rosicky starts a campaign to institute a Premiership winter break, do not be surprised. Such is the Arsenal midfielder's love of ice hockey that he used the winter shutdowns at Borussia Dortmund to dust off his skates, stick and puck and take to the rink in the Czech Republic. Now, though, he can forget any such entertainment. "I hope I will cope," he says with a smile.

For the past four winters, part of the Rosicky routine has been clearly set down. With Jan Koller, his international colleague and then Dortmund team-mate, a fellow ice hockey devotee, the pair would challenge one another to a match in their homeland.

"He got his team and I got my team and we played a big game; it was very good," Rosicky says. Precautions were taken to ensure they returned unhurt. "We didn't play 100 per cent, only for fun," he explains.

Arsene Wenger would be horrified at the thought of the 26-year-old zipping around a rink, particularly with the 6ft 7in Koller in pursuit. Arsenal's manager will be delighted Rosicky's only aim for now is to attend an English ice hockey game at a quiet point. "For me it was always football as number one but when I had the time I liked to play ice hockey," he says, describing his play in the rink as not bad. "Ice hockey is very popular (in the Czech Republic) and I think it's split 50 per cent for ice hockey and 50 per cent for football." Speed and precision are features of ice hockey so it comes as no shock to hear the affable Rosicky talk of his love of Arsenal's style. His nimbleness and quickness of thought and pass mean he is settling steadily, and he had been aware of Arsenal's interest for some time.

Jens Lehmann, with whom he played at Dortmund for more than two years, was among those to tip him off. "Arsenal were watching me a lot," Rosicky says.

Wenger sealed a deal before the World Cup and Rosicky was delighted to leave Dortmund. He went there from Sparta Prague in January 2001 with high hopes, and began brightly with a Bundesliga title and Uefa Cup final, but the club started to slide amid financial troubles. Chelsea tried to sign Rosicky in January 2004 but could not agree a fee with Dortmund. "I knew they were interested but that was always the problem in Dortmund - they wanted silly money," Rosicky says. "Now I am happy they didn't sell me there." He is in jovial mood, but his last couple of years at Dortmund were no laughing matter. He first asked for a move in 2004.

"It was a difficult transfer because there were a lot of financial problems and they sold my rights to another guy," Rosicky says. "That was very complicated. Even myself I don't understand it but it wasn't an easy situation. I don't know exactly who it was but one day I figured it out. It wasn't only me; it was also (Cristoph) Metzelder and the rights to the Brazilian guy Ewerthon. If something like this happens you feel betrayed and the situation between me and the club after was not okay."

It began to affect his form.

"I think you can see in every player if he is playing with his heart or not," he says. "I am not someone who went to the game, saying: 'Oh no, another game.' I always wanted to give my best but my heart didn't want it."

Now he feels comfortable and, for the first time since 2002-03, has the Champions League stage his ability merits. Arsenal pounced when a deal involving Atletico Madrid fell through.

"I had a very good opportunity to go to Italy but that's not my style there - it's not a football that I like," Rosicky says in his impressive English. "After, there was the offer from Atletico, who are building a very good team, but when Arsenal came in it wasn't difficult.

"Arsenal was my favourite club from years before so when Arsenal decided they wanted to buy me, it was easy for me. The style they play is what I like and every player at this club is technically very strong and in these times there are not many clubs who play football like this."

Arsenal have, though, been accused of too often looking for a perfect goal and Rosicky agrees the team ought to shoot more, starting at home to Watford today. He would also have been content to join Atletico, whom his elder brother, Jiri, joined in the mid-1990s. "When I was 14 to 15 I always travelled to visit him there and I could see it is a very good league," Rosicky says. Jiri's career has been stunted by knee problems but football runs in the family, their father having been a tough left-back at Sparta Prague.

Rosicky has big boots to fill at Arsenal, replacing Robert Pires, but is relaxed. "I am used to playing under pressure," he says. "When I joined Dortmund it was the biggest transfer in their history and I am captain of the national team, so it's nothing new for me. But it's not easy because Pires was very important for this club and scored a lot of goals. But I am still at the start and I will be better."

Even without his fix of ice hockey this winter.

Guardian Service