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Tomas Rosicky: I almost left Arsenal in January

Tomas Rosicky celebrates
Image: Tomas Rosicky is planning to start contract negotiations when he returns from the international break

Tomas Rosicky has revealed he considered leaving Arsenal in January due to a lack of first-team football.

The Czech playmaker spent the first half of the season warming the bench and did not start a Premier League match until the Boxing Day win over QPR.

However, Rosicky has since chalked up some 23 appearances overall as Arsenal moved back into the top four and also booked a place in the FA Cup semi-finals at Wembley.

The 34-year-old, who joined the Gunners from Borussia Dortmund in 2006, is now planning to open talks about extending his stay at the Emirates, which has been hampered by an unfortunate series of injuries.

Arsenal is still an option for me next season, the ball is in their court. When I get back from international duty we will start to talk about it
Tomas Rosicky

"Since the start of the year things have improved, the team has started to play better football and what's more I'm playing. Compared to the first six months, it's much better. We'll see how it goes from here," Rosicky said on isport.blesk.cz.

"I don't really know [why I didn't play]. It's a good question, I would also like to know.

"The coach gave me a chance towards the end the year and then began to give me more playing time. I don't know, maybe it was a watershed moment."

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Rosicky added: "We had talked about [me leaving in January] in previous meetings back in September and October, but then the market closed and I couldn't do anything.

"When you don't play a single game in December and the market opens, [the prospect of leaving] is obviously on the agenda. Then you start to have second thoughts.

"It was an exception for me though, I really thought about it. Then Arsenal said 'stay' and that was that.

"The rest of the season will go quickly, then we'll look for a solution.

"Arsenal is still an option for me next season, the ball is in their court. When I get back from international duty we will start to talk about it.

"There are two options open to me [stay at Arsenal or go elsewhere]. At the moment I am in a situation where I make the decision."

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