7. Tomas Rosicky

There was perhaps no finer sight in pre-season than Tomas Rosicky back in Arsenal colours.
 
After no fewer than 18 months on the sidelines, the Czech midfielder played 45 minutes of Arsenal’s friendly clash at Barnet and was named captain by Arsène Wenger. He followed up that outing with a long-awaited comeback appearance on home soil in the Emirates Cup at the start of August. Tomas almost marked this comeback with a goal, but a clinical right-foot finish from the edge of the area was ruled out for offside.
 
He was inevitably described as “like a new signing” and, although the man himself disagrees, it is an understandable viewpoint. Before picking up the injury after nine minutes of an FA Cup tie with Newcastle in January 2008, the long-time Czech Republic international had racked up 61 appearances and 13 goals in his first two seasons with the Gunners. The fact may have faded a little in his absence, but Tomas is a senior first-team face.
 
And, despite his lengthy lay-off, Tomas has lost none of the craft, cleverness or final-third invention which make the 28-year-old one of Arsenal’s match-winners. As with most long-term injuries, the midfielder’s return has been interrupted by a string of minor problems. However, player, manager and fans alike know that, at long last, Tomas Rosicky is back.

 

MY YEAR

October

A knee injury kept Tomas out of the games against West Ham, Liverpool and Tottenham but he did feature in the home wins over Blackburn and Birmingham, assisting Abou Diaby to score the Gunners second against City.

September

Tomas marked his return from injury by scoring Arsenal's second in the 4-2 defeat at Manchester City. He also played the short pass for Robin van Persie to slot home the Gunners' equaliser in the same match. The Czech midfielder started both Champions League games in September and came on as a substitute in the Premier League encounters against Wigan and Fulham.

August

Tomas Rosicky missed out on the start of the season with a hamstring problem.  However, the Czech midfielder featured in both games as Arsenal won the Emirates Cup at the start of the month.

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