English commentators are bound to look at another few years of struggling to pronounce Tomas Rosicky’s name correctly with the 33-year-old midfielder signing a new contract with Arsenal in the past week that should hold him down to the club until 2016.
He picked up the nickname Little Mozart for his ability to dictate play on the football field as a conductor does an orchestra. Although not in exactly the same mould, the God of Arsenal fans was known to flourish in a similar number 10 role while he played at the club. The God I refer to is the Non-Flying Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp who recently had a statue unveiled in his honour at the Emirates Stadium. Incidentally, Bergkamp retired in 2006 and his testimonial was the first match to be played at the Emirates Stadium (although not a competitive match) which was around the same time that Rosicky arrived at Arsenal. The two players aren’t exclusive. Bergkamp played as a second striker in the hole to create chances for a target man up front and although Rosicky favours a similar position, he is an attacking midfielder who likes to play high up the pitch and create chances. But for me, the most common factor between the two is probably the fact that Rosicky may just be the next player to retire in an Arsenal jersey after Bergkamp hung up his boots.
It is a bit astonishing that Rosicky has been offered a contract at Arsenal having crossed the barrier of 30 years of age. At this stage Arsene Wenger tends to hand out 12 month contract extensions and no more to make sure he doesn’t get stuck with an aging player. But Rosicky seems to be an exception. Wenger’s latest comments highlight how Rosicky has adapted his style of play to suit the current Arsenal team and how he bursts into life with short sprints whenever needed. Rosicky has matured into a player that the team needs especially with the absence of Aaron Ramsey over the last two months and the impending dearth of Jack Wilshere we are expected to experience. With Wilshere’s role in midfield being vacated, it can be expected that Rosicky would slot into the position on a rotational policy with Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain. But Ramsey is set to make a return having begun full first team training so it is possible that he and Rosicky would vie for Wilshere’s position with The Ox keeping his place on the flank.
Rosicky spent the better part of 2 years out of regular competitive football while nursing his hamstring back to health and missed the entire 2008-09 season. At an age when most players are in the prime of their footballing careers, Rosicky was forced to watch his time stumble and fall from the sidelines. But Wenger is known to have faith in his injury-laden players. The best example to site in this regard is Aaron Ramsey who suffered a broken leg in 2010 and has completely recuperated from his injury to take the football world by storm with his brilliance this season while still at the age of 23.
Rosicky has been one of those unique players who have played for the team. His transfer was confirmed before the 2006 FIFA World Cup which was a stellar deal by Wenger since Rosicky played splendidly. His stock would surely have risen to a minimum of 30 million pounds had he been signed after the World Cup instead of the 13 million pounds we got him for. In his first season, he made 37 appearances and scored 6 goals for Arsenal in all competitions. The 2007-08 season saw him appear in 24 games with a goal tally of 7. It was this point when his career took a nosedive with his injuries taking their toll. He did regain his fitness and put in regular shifts but he was largely ineffective as he was still finding his way into the team.
But his dynamic in the team has changed since his early days with Arsenal. This season has been a revelation for the 33 year old. He has managed to fit into roles deeper in midfield or on the wings instead of playing down the middle to support the striker. This role has allowed him to spot runs and play through passes between the defensive lines for the wide players allowing them to assist the striker with a cool finish. He has also been able to make quick darted runs with and without the ball because of his acceleration. One of the prime examples is the goal he scored against Sunderland on 22nd February 2014 when he capped off a 5 pass move by receiving a deft-touch pass from Olivier Giroud to neatly chip the ball over the keeper. The move highlighted his excellent ball control, his vision, the ability to get in between lines of defenders, to play quick passes and his composure to finish the move off. The new role he has taken up allows him to sit back, watch the Arsenal players make runs and pick out the best pass. No credit is awarded to the pre-assist pass that sets up the assist, but if there were such statistics, Rosicky would definitely be one of the top players in England. In Arsenal’s FA Cup quarterfinal victory against Everton on 8th March 2014, Rosicky released Bacary Sagna into space to set up a tap-in for Olivier Giroud and followed it up by doing the same for Mesut Ozil to set up a goal for Giroud again.
It is his technical genius that gives him an advantage over most players. Rosicky jumps into life in a flash by skipping away from defenders with his quick feet and follows it up with a short sprint. It is probably this composure that has made Wenger trust him against tougher opponents. He has been a reliable figure in Wenger’s midfield for the big games this season. He brings experience and a fantastic work rate to the squad especially since he has improved his defensive role while playing in a deeper midfield role.
The biggest problem for me is that age isn’t exactly on Rosicky’s side. I doubt he has the legs to put in the performances week in and week out although he looks great doing it in small spells. The worry of his hamstring giving way, especially at this age, is probably why Wenger utilises him conservatively.
When all odds are accounted for, I’m glad Rosicky has been given a contract extension. The last few weeks have brought out rumours and confirmations of exceptional players like Nemanja Vidic, Carlos Puyol and Iker Casillas leaving their clubs. In a time of such uncertainty for a football player post-30, I think it is brilliant news for a player to have their manager’s vote of confidence.
Sean Sequeira is a part of the @Football_P family. You can follow him on Twitter at @seanseq.
