He limped off, from memory, in the first leg of the January 2008 Carling Cup semi-final against Spurs. Since then, for £50k a week or whatever the club are paying him, he has thrilled the fans by cutting a ribbon to open the Arsenal Store in St Albans and doing a few laps of the pitch at the summer 2008 members’ day. A large number of people, myself included, had given up hope of ever seeing him play for the team again.

But there he was. Leading the team out against Barnet and playing the first half. To say he put in a devastating performance would be pushing it, but I had forgotten the qualities he brings to a side playing Wenger’s style of football. His link-up play and understanding – especially with Arshavin – was a huge contrast to that of Theo Walcott, who has effectively been covering for him when fit. Rosicky is a far more intelligent and less careless footballer.

We have missed this guy. I would be surprised if the manager did not use the ‘like a new signing’ line in his post-match comments, and the reality is that, after 18 months, he is just that. If he stays fit, the team will improve. I never read too much into the Barnet game, and it should be remembered that as a starting player, Sanchez Watt is unlikely to get near the first team, but the attack seemed to reflect the familiar failings of playing up to the edge of the opposition area and then not having someone to do the required clinical endwork.

Arshavin joined Watt upfront in the starting line-up, but the formation seemed to be 4-3-3 much of the time, with Rosicky or Jack Wilshere taking turns to join them as the third forward. The central midfield pair of Frimpong and Mark Randall acquitted themselves well, but the opposition might have flattered them. However Randall especially look like he wanted to prove a point. I suspect his fate is a transfer – maybe at some point in the next 12 months – to a lesser Premier League club. But it would be good if he could make some appearances from the bench at Arsenal to see if he can become a reliable back-up option. The club gives up too easily on a lot of its young English talent. Kieran Gibbs is an example that, given the chance, some of them are actually good enough and can save the club some money. Additionally, it must be hoped we see more of Wilshere this season. Yes, he is young, and not ready to start week-in, week-out, but he has more of a contribution to make than we saw in 2008-09.

Thomas Vermaelen made his debut in a back four accompanied by Djourou (at right back), Gallas and Silvestre. The quartet were not good enough in the air to prevent a Barnet equaliser just before the interval, although not having seen a replay of the goal, I couldn’t point the finger at who was marking the scorer. Still, opposition set piece ends up in the Arsenal net - no change there then. I was told after the game that a deal might still be on for Fulham’s Brede Hangeland that involved Philippe Senderos going to Craven Cottage as a makeweight in the deal. We live in hope.

Arsenal’s first goal was nicely fashioned, a break on the left wing that beat the offside trap by Watt and a pinpoint centre that Arshavin simply had to make contact with to score. A well-crafted goal. As there were 21 players on duty, I pondered who might stay on for the second half and thought Emmanuel Frimpong was the most likely candidate. Turned out it was Thomas Vermaelen. The reserves re-took the lead with a fine goal by Nacer Barazite, turning on the edge of the area and rifling home in a fashion that reminded this viewer of Thierry Henry, but I doubt he’d be allowed the room to do that in a more competitive situation. Nice finish nonetheless.

The players relaxed a bit and allowed Barnet back into the game with a sloppy equaliser when they failed to deal with a corner. Then the game came back to life for the final minutes with both teams re-invigorated. Finished 2-2 though. A decent work out for the team and fantastic to see Rosicky back.

And one of the positive aspects of this annual commitment is that a lot of the players do take time to sign autographs as they exit the ground. As a PR exercise, uncharacteristically positive by the club’s normal standards. Rosicky, especially, did his best to sign everything waved in front of him. Let’s hope he produces as generously on the field over the coming campaign.