A Little Mozart called Rosicky

As this month wears off and we step in to a new year, it will be five years since Arsene Wenger made a great transfer deal with Borussia Dortmund. It was the time when Robert Pires had informed Wenger that he had enough of his number 7 jersey, forcing the manager to hunt for a replacement. It was in the man they called “Little Mozart” in Germany that Wenger saw a replacement. In 2006, Arsene Wenger saw Tomas Rosicky.

Tomas Rosicky took over Pires’ number 7 shirt at Arsenal and came aboard to the Premier League promising a great deal. Since then, life in the league has not been a bed of roses for the Czech international. The influential midfielder has been plagued by injuries and missed a whole season in 2008-2009. However, taking the knacks and the bruises in his stride, Rosciky is fast emerging as an influential figure in the Arsenal set up.

In the times when he has been able to bring himself out in to the green, Rosicky has served as a complete midfielder for the club with a willingness and ability to play almost any midfield position. He can attack and defend with equal ease and ply along the flanks if such a need arises. Rosicky is in many ways a quintessential Arsenal midfielder. He is rated highly around the world for his defence splitting passes. He sees opportunities when others are just starting to look around and grabs those chances with both hands by providing the perfect pass or through ball.

In the current season, Rosicky is fourth in the Arsenal assists rankings, behind Fabregas, Arshavin and Wilshere, all attacking midfielders par excellence. Rosicky chipped in with some grandiose performances in the previous season too, setting up some splendid goals in the league and in other competitions. During the limited appearance he made last season, Rosicky contributed three goals and four assists, a piece of statistic that may not look very impressive but when compared to the time he played, a significant achievement. On an average, Rosicky contributed a goal or an assist every 187 minutes, close to what Arshavin had to offer. “The Little Mozart” remains one of the most creative players in the Arsenal squad and this season he has shown that he is free from his injury troubles of the past. Importantly, Rosicky can dribble well, and make quick decisions on the fly. He is quick, nimble and well suited to the Arsenal way of playing football.

What sets Rosicky apart in the Arsenal squad though is his tough guy image. Though called “Little Mozart”, he is not all velvet and no iron fist. Tomas Rosicky is Arsenal’s tough tackling, does-not-mind-a-bit-of-physical-play midfielder. For a player of his build, Rosicky goes in to every tackle confidently and fearlessly, surely an example other Arsenal players would do well to emulate. Rosicky is an invaluable asset in that department. He is committed and gives all he has to win the ball in the middle.

In the game against Fulham last week, Rosicky made 25 successful passes in the 63 minutes he played on the pitch and was a vital cog in the machinery that battered the Fulham defence in the first half. Rosicky won the ball twice with two excellent tackles. In the Wolves game in November, Rosicky made a good contribution with 42 successful passes and won five tackles in the center of the field.

At thirty years of age, Rosicky is one of the senior players in the Arsenal camp. Rosicky brings great experience to the Arsenal side, an invaluable commodity in a dressing room heavily populated by youngsters. Young players like Wilshere and Ramsey can watch and learn from Rosicky as the Czech shows them why exactly he is called Little Mozart. He is respected and well liked in the dressing room, a fact reiterated by Wenger giving the captain’s arm band to Rosicky in the absence of Fabregas.

Rosicky has been a bit goal shy in Arsenal colours, having failed to net in 11 months, a total of 34 appearances. Rosicky just needs a goal or two to lift his confidence and bring him tohis best form. Rosciky was drafted in as a replacement for Pires and he should replicate the scoring instinct of the Frenchman so that Arsenal can derive maximum utility out of him.

This season, if free of injuries, Rosicky can play a vital role in Arsenal’s hunt for a trophy. Rosciky is sure to play a defining role in the team. Let us just hope that he can score and assist at will.