Tomas Rosicky felt "exhausted" after the FA Cup final - even though he only played 15 minutes.
The Czech international gave Arsenal fresh legs and impetus when he came on halfway through extra time and the Gunners found a late winner to complete a dramatic 3-2 victory over Hull City.
Arsenal trailed by two goals inside 10 minutes and Rosicky admitted that the cup final experience was mentally and physically draining.
"It is really [exhausting] even when you are not playing, you are living with the team"
"It is really [exhausting] even when you are not playing, you are living with the team," he told Arsenal Player. "I played 15 minutes and I feel like I've played two games in a row. The emotions played quite a big part as well.
"It was a very long wait for me and I'm delighted and the whole team is delighted. The whole club needed the trophy so we are glad it's behind us.
"Hull started very well, they were very aggressive, they made the spaces tight for the boys to create something but you could see when the game went on they were more tired. After I came on with Jack and we had the power and pace to try to make the difference."
The FA Cup is Rosicky's first trophy in English football and he believes the team is ready to achieve more.
"It must be [a springboard]," he said. "Mainly for the English boys who [have been here] since they were youngsters, they are not the youngsters anymore, so all these boys like Jack, Walcott, Chamberlain, Gibbo, Carl Jenkinson, for them it's very important they have something.
"We have to take this for next season."
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