Rosicky defends behaviour after Sunderland goal

TOMAS ROSICKY insists he was not acting irresponsibly by starting to walk to the halfway line before Sebastian Larsson’s brilliant free-kick had struck the back of the Arsenal net in Sunday’s 2-1 victory over Sunderland.

Rosicky, who was standing just off the wall for the free-kick, caused fury among the Arsenal fans by starting his walk to the halfway line with his back to goal for the restart without even turning around to see if the ball had actually gone in.

The Czech international, who did the same when Wayne Rooney struck with a free-kick against the Gunners at Old Trafford in August, even appeared to laugh as soon as Larsson struck the free-kick.