Rosicky - Race is still on

Gunners star refuses to give up on the title race

By Vasek Kadlec   Last updated: 29th March 2008

Tomas Rosicky

Rosicky: Confident

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Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky believes the title race is still wide open, despite the Gunners languishing six points behind leaders Manchester United.

The defeat to Chelsea on Grand Slam Sunday also saw the Blues overtake Arsene Wenger's men, yet the former Borussia Dortmund player Rosicky is confident he and his team-mates can storm back to the summit with a late run of results.

"It is a pity as five or six weeks ago we were first with a five-point lead," said Rosicky in Sport.

"It's not over though - there are still seven games to be played. Manchester United travel to Chelsea, we travel to Manchester, and if we win there we are back in it.

"We must be ready to capitalise - it is still open but we are just not the ones holding the steering wheel."

The Czech Republic international is hoping to repeat the title feat he achieved with Dortmund in 2002 when the Bundesliga outfit snatched the title by a single point from rivals Bayer Leverkusen.

Eliminated

"We have to think that in Germany when I won the league with Dortmund, we were five points behind the leaders with three games to go," Rosicky said.

"Everything changes here very quickly - last season we were participating in four competitions and then, in quick succession we were knocked out of the FA Cup, lost the Carling Cup final and were eliminated from the UEFA Champions League.

"Within ten days you can lose everything - or win everything."

Rosicky has been out of action since the start of February with a persistent knee ligament injury, and admits he is unlikely to feature in the Gunners' end of season run-in.

"The ligament in my knee is not flexible enough," he said.

"If something in your body doesn't move it burdens the other parts and I simply cannot use the full force.

"It has improved though and I have started jogging this week."