Thursday 16 April 2020 13:20, UK
Arsenal must target winning the Premier League title next season, according to midfielder Tomas Rosicky.
Despite completing back-to-back FA Cup successes last month, Arsene Wenger's side finished third in the league - a disappointing 12 points behind champions Chelsea.
The Gunners recorded their worst start to a league season in 34 years but recovered during the second half of the season thanks to an eight successive victories.
And Rosicky, speaking at PUMA's Arsenal home kit launch, thinks the club can mount a serious title challenge.
"I thought we would challenge last season but obviously the first half of the season was not good," the 34-year-old said.
"We did not play well at all and it wasn’t the Arsenal style of football we were playing. You could see from January we started to play our way and it was Arsenal. Now we have to show we can produce these kind of performances for the whole season and not just for half.
"Every player realises we have to carry on that momentum," he added.
"We don’t want to just be third and win the FA Cup. Obviously, it’s a solid season when you win the FA Cup. You could see the progress in the team after December.
"Consistency is key for any title challenge and that is what we have to show through the whole of next season. The potential is there for this side to challenge for the title.”
Rosicky, who moved to Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2006 for an undisclosed fee, is entering his tenth season in north London.
The Czech Republic international has featured alongside some of the best players the club's history but thinks the current crop is the most talented squad of his tenure.
"It’s definitely the strongest squad," the midfielder said. "Numbers-wise it’s the most talented squad I have played with.
"Is it the best team I have played in? It’s difficult to say. The 2007/08 side was a great team as well and we were top of the Premier League until February. Three or four injuries was the reason we weren’t champions that year.
"But the current squad in terms of its depth is the most talented since I’ve been here.”
Rosicky's future has been surrounded in speculation following a season where he had just eight starts in all competitions for Arsenal.
The former Sparta Prague star, who made his 100th appearance for his country in the 2-1 defeat to Iceland last Friday, has been linked with moves to Turkish sides Trabzonspor and Bursaspor, but he insists he is fully focussed on the new season with Arsenal.
He said: "My focus is here. I have another year left on my contract. It was a difficult time for me. It’s never easy when you are not playing at all and you end the season in the stands.
"Is there a frustration? Of course there is a frustration because I think I can still help the team to be better.
"On the other side I have been here nine years and I have always said I love the club," he added. "I don’t think I have to prove to anyone how I feel about Arsenal and how loyal I am to this club.
"Of course it’s not going well for me at the moment. It’s disappointing but I will not give up easy. I will fight.”
