Arsenal Star Turned Down Lucrative Offers to Stay at Emirates

Tomas Rosicky has revealed he turned down well-paid offers from clubs in China and Russia to stay at Arsenal.

The Gunners' midfielder signed a new contract at the Emirates after an impressive run of form during which he scored twice in three games and proved instrumental in the club's battle for Champions League football.

Rosicky, 31, has agreed a two-year deal with Arsenal but admits he rejected big-money offers from a number of foreign clubs.

"In both cases, it was financially huge numbers, so that somehow you had to entertain it - it's not easy. Some days I thought about it, but money is not everything," Rosicky told isport.blesk.cz.

"I'm glad I'll be able to continue at Arsenal.

"Arsenal let me get to the point where I had just half a year on my contract and could talk to anyone I wanted," he added.

"It started to get interesting because I had very lucrative offers. This turned my head a little, but I have to say that Arsenal were my priority."

Rosicky signed for Arsenal from Borussia Dortmund in 2006 and has scored 19 times in 156 appearances for the north London club. And the midfielder's recent form has drawn praise from manager Arsene Wenger who said he has immense respect for the manner in which the player has responded from a series of injuries.

"I believe he is an exceptional player, a natural footballer who is technically top class. He plays the style of football we champion here and shares completely our philosophy," Wenger is quoted on BBC Sport.

"He is always ready to work for the sake of the club, always willing to put the team first. I have huge respect for him."

Rosicky had previously struggled to establish himself in the Arsenal fist-XI following a series of injuries that hindered his development at the Emirates. The Czech international suffered serious hamstring tendon damage in his second season at the club, which side-lined him for 18 months following surgery.