Tomas Rosicky insists it’s pivotal that Arsenal finish the Premier League season in third to avoid a Champions League qualifier, report the Evening Standard
The Czech Republic international has been on the fringes of the Gunners’ side this term and made his return to the side after a two-month absence against Sunderland last night.
Arsene Wenger’s men are three points above closest rivals Manchester United and their superior goal difference means they are all-but-certain of finishing in the last automatic Champions League place.
And Rosicky, who moved to the Emirates from Dortmund in 2006, says it is crucial that the side do not have to cut short their pre-season to play in the qualifiers.
“It is really important that you’re not playing in those qualification matches,” admitted Rosicky.
“You don’t know who you can get and there are some very tricky teams. You are going into the holiday period and you have not qualified.
“So it is important that you can go to your holiday with a clean head, not thinking about that and know you are there. That is the motivation for finishing in third place.”
Rosicky has featured in just 15 of Arsenal’s 37 league matches this term, but he has only completed the full 90 minutes on three occasions.
That means the former Borussia Dortmund midfielder has been taken off in a 66.7% of those 15 matches in the Premier League, although he has won 11/14 take-ons (79%) as well as created seven chances.
The 34-year-old’s limited appearances this season has led the midfielder to question his future at the Emirates, with a move abroad a possibility this summer according to ESPN.
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