Jamie Giberti
With the departures of Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri (not to mention Jack's injury) I'd been telling anyone who would listen that Tomas Rosicky and Andrey Arshavin would both step up to the plate and deliver this season. While our Russian meerkat has opted to return to familiar pastures, our number seven from the Czech Republic is having an increasingly impressive influence on proceedings. Despite having played in the 8-2 debacle at Old Trafford, early season performances were encouraging as even if his ideas weren't quite coming off, Rosicky always put a shift in, often being our best midfielder when it came to putting in a tackle or three.
The settled midfield trio of Arteta, Song and Ramsey plus the odd niggling injury meant that we did not see a huge amount of "Super Tom" or "TR7" as he's often abbreviated to on Twitter but around Christmas that all started to change. Injuries, combined with fatigue and a lack of form on the part of Aaron Ramsey saw Tomas restored to the starting line up. And with the exception of the awful recent drubbing in Milan, I believe we have been a better team for having him on the pitch.
Whilst he is often guilty of looking to play one more pass rather than have a shot at goal himself, this is hardly a solitary accusation that is levelled at the Arsenal ranks. His running with the ball has improved week on week and even if he has flattered to deceive on some occasions, he always looks like a player capable of making something happen. The North London derby was the culmination and the pay off for the hard work Rosicky has put in over the last couple of months. As good as he was in harrying the Spurs players when they had the ball and making many tackles, it was the forward play in his game that really shone through. His runs were full of purpose and penetration. His passing was incisive, the ball floated over Robin Van Persie's head which then led RVP to put Theo in for the fourth goal was exquisite. Best of all the third goal - of which he was the scorer – saw him picking up the ball, driving at the heart of the Spurs defence and then busting a gut to be on the end of the return ball from Bacary Sagna for his first goal in a year. It was thoroughly deserved and the reaction told you everything about what it meant to him.
Arsene Wenger remarked after the game what a wonderful player our number seven is and how "everyone loves to play with Rosicky". It's not difficult to see why. For Arsenal to have their best chance of holding onto fourth spot in the league more displays of the level produced against "The Enemy" (trademark Bacary Sagna) will be most welcome. There is also the matter of unresolved contract issues; Surely Super Tom has done enough to earn another deal, even if it is the typically stingy one year offered to the elder Arsenal statesmen (he is only 30). Tomas Rosicky is slowly but surely reminding everyone why Borussia Dortmund paid £18 million for him all those years ago back when £18 million meant a lot more in football terms than it does today. He is having a personal renaissance, and long may it continue to aid that of the team.
