Arsenal: A Case For Tomas Rosicky

Arsenal’s long-serving Czech Tomas Rosicky has succumbed to another injury in the wake of his long-awaited recovery. Is this the end of Little Mozart?

Tomas Rosicky. I love that guy. I really do. After all, he’s the one that brought me to Arsenal F.C.

Everyone has ‘their’ player. I never wanted to follow someone too flashy, or over the top. Everyone knows Cristiano Ronaldo’s greatness. That’s easy.

Understand the nuances of the game and you can’t help but fall in love with Tomas Rosicky’s playing style. I mean he’s the closest thing we have to the old guard of Arsenal that played with the likes of Henry.

We met at the 2006 FIFA World Cup. Well, I didn’t meet him personally, but it felt as if I did. It was more of an announcement when I heard it. “This is what Arsenal fans can look forward to next season.” I’ll just never forget it. I won’t forget where I was, or where I was sitting when I saw the U.S.A take on the Czech Republic. I was mesmerized. “The Little Mozart,” they said. His screamer from way outside the box into the top right corner and the quick dash up the middle to seal the game. It was orchestrated beautifully. BVB lost a good one.

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Rosicky was sensational. Rockin’ a golden yellow Nike Arsenal jersey with charcoal accents, he made a carbon copy of his goal against the U.S.A., but this time it was in the Champions League vs. Hamburg. He followed that up with a looping kick with the inside of the foot from outside the 18’ against Liverpool.

He scored another in the same FA Cup match. I’ll never forget the passion steaming off his goal celebration. He was quick, rapido, technically gifted, accelerated the game, and pressed the lines forward, always forward.

He drove the team.

When we seemed compressed from the opposition’s pressure, he pushed it back by stretching the field, opening the game and allowing Arsenal to invade. Rosicky was the link between the offense and the defense, allowing the team to flow, seamlessly orchestrated. Orchestrating was starting to trend for Tomas. He was the pass before the assist for the goal. He set up a perfect opportunity for a companion to easily play in the striker. It made it seem as if he was always playing one step ahead of you.

Scary, isn’t it?

I was sold. I ordered my first Arsenal jersey ever after watching Rosicky play. If it’s your first time buying a jersey for a team, you should buy their home jersey. Makes sense, right? I didn’t know. Instead of getting a classic red Arsenal Jersey, I got myself a golden yellow Nike jersey with the charcoal accents, “Tomas Rosicky 7” on the back. I became an Arsenal fan with my favorite player wearing my favorite Arsenal Jersey.

It was poetic.