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Rosicky on Wembley and former Gunners

Tomas Rosicky
Tomas Rosicky

Tomas Rosicky says Arsenal won't be treating Sunday's Community Shield like a pre-season friendly as they look to lay down a marker ahead of the new campaign.

Arsene Wenger's side return to Wembley for the season's traditional curtain-raiser after beating Hull City in the FA Cup final three months ago.

The Czech midfielder is expecting a competitive game against the Premier League champions and is looking forward to facing former team-mates Bacary Sagna, Samir Nasri and Gael Clichy.

"I think it will be a good offensive game because both teams like to attack and it will be very interesting," Rosicky said. "Bacary Sagna is another one who left us for Man City so it will be kind of strange to see these boys.

"The players see it as another trophy because it's at Wembley"

"I played with Sagna for six or seven years and now you play against him - it's always very interesting.

"We're looking forward to the game because it's a big game. I hope the fans and everyone will get a good preview before the league starts.

"I think the players see it as another trophy because it's at Wembley, I think the stadium will be sold out - it will be a massive game. On one side it's a friendly but I think both sides will see it as another opportunity to win a trophy. We have great memories from Wembley and we would like another one."

Rosicky, who is entering his ninth campaign with the club, says winning the FA Cup has given the squad increased impetus as they head into the new season.

"It was very important that we won the FA Cup," he said. "Mainly for the younger boys and the English boys.

"For the boys like Walcott, Wilshere, Gibbs, Chamberlain it was very important to win something like that. They didn't know the feeling to win a trophy before so that can give you a great lift. That feeling is rare and you don't find it very often.

"These things can make you more hungry when you taste success. It's a great experience and it's very important that it happened."

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