Tomas Rosicky has revealed his one major regret from a decade at Arsenal: never winning the Premier League title. The former midfielder became a fan favourite at the Emirates but could not lift the league trophy with the Gunners.
A Winning Pedigree Before North London
Rosicky arrived at Arsenal with a reputation for silverware, having helped Borussia Dortmund win the Bundesliga and triumphed with Sparta Prague earlier in his career. In 2006, Arsene Wenger signed the Czech Republic international as he looked to build on a side that had narrowly lost to Barcelona in the Champions League final.
The 45-year-old eventually helped guide the Gunners to trophies. The club's 2014 FA Cup triumph ended a nine-year drought, with Arsenal retaining the trophy the following year.
Regret Despite FA Cup Success
However, despite his success in English football, Rosicky was unable to steer Wenger's side to a league title. Upon announcing his retirement, the midfielder admitted that falling short in the Premier League remained a major regret, as he reflected on the club's FA Cup glory.
“Yeah, that’s what I wanted - to win a trophy with Arsenal,” Rosicky told Arsenal’s club website in 2017. “There’s a regret that we didn’t win the Premier League, but after such a long time, it was a great moment.
“For the fans as well, the connection between the players and the fans that day was absolutely amazing. I’m repeating myself but I’ve enjoyed every minute playing for Arsenal because it’s an amazing club.
“I always loved to play for Arsene Wenger and for his vision of how football should be played. It was absolutely great.”
Close Calls and a Lasting Bond
During Rosicky's 10-year stint in the Premier League, Arsenal finished third on four occasions before being runners-up to Leicester City in his final year. The Gunners icon, who now works as Sparta Prague's sporting director, may not have ended the club's wait for a league title but was clear about his affection for Arsenal when hanging up his boots.
“For one last time, I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone at Arsenal Football Club,” Rosicky said. “For me, it’s a fantastic club and it was always an honour for me to play for Arsenal.
“I always had a special bond with the fans. Every time I played, they knew that I was playing for the shirt.
“I always played for the shirt because it was an honour for me to represent such a great club like Arsenal. One thing is for sure, I’m a Gunner forever.”
The former Czech Republic international made 246 appearances for Arsenal, scoring 28 goals and providing 23 assists. A decade after leaving the Gunners, Rosicky's former teammate Mikel Arteta led the club to a long-awaited league title.
