Shades of Tomas Rosicky as Alex Iwobi Stars Against Burnley

In Arsenal’s 2-1 FA Cup win over Burnley on Saturday, Tomas Rosicky made his first appearance of the season.

Knee surgery back in August had forced him to watch Arsenal’s title challenge from the sidelines, but he has now recovered suitably to take part in the second half of the campaign.

When he entered the field as a second-half substitute, he was greeted with a huge roar from the Emirates crowd. Rosicky is adored at Arsenal, and the strength of that love has only grown as the end of his career approaches.

Understandably, there is trepidation as to how they will replace him. However, in Alex Iwobi, they might have stumbled across an answer. 

GLYN KIRK/Getty Images

It’s not a perfect parallel. The two players have some differences—Iwobi has not yet demonstrated Rosicky’s capacity to unleash searing sprints, and his pressing game falls some way short of his Czech predecessor.

However, both players do share a continual positivity. When they get the ball, their first look is forward. Both midfielders have an upright running style, with their heads constantly glancing left and right to locate a team-mate in space. 

Their passing shares certain similarities too. They fire the ball to the feet of their team-mates and are technically blessed enough to expect their colleague will do the same. They add zip to Arsenal’s game with their pinged passes and perpetual movement.

It was hugely telling that Arsene Wenger chose to deploy Iwobi in the Mesut Ozil role as the team’s primary playmaker. He could have chosen Alexis or another more senior player with the No. 10 role, but he instead opted for Iwobi.

That speaks volumes as to the esteem in which he is held in north London. At 19, he is already trusted to be the primary spark for Arsenal’s play. In the long term, he could be someone to help the Gunners find another gear. He could potentially be the new Rosicky.

Paul Gilham/Getty Images

This day might have been dedicated to Rosicky. Both goals would have delighted him. The Czech international is famed for his preference for shooting with the outside of his foot, and it was with such a strike that Calum Chambers opened the scoring, arcing a brilliant shot into the far corner.

The second goal was reminiscent of one of Arsenal’s Rosicky-inspired counter-attacks. It’s no surprise that Iwobi was at the heart of it, tearing upfield before playing a well-weighted pass to Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain who then crossed for Alexis to sweep home.

Both goals were elegant on the eye, but it was difficult for Wenger to choose between them. Per Arsenal.com, he said:

"

I would say they are two completely different goals. One came from a build up in the final third, where we were patient and moved the ball well, with great finishing from Chambers. He’s quite a good finisher in training. The second one was in transition, coming out quickly from the back and finishing well, with a lot of pace. They were two completely different goals.

"

Watching on the sidelines, Rosicky would have taken huge satisfaction as both goals hit the net. He might also have allowed himself a smile at the performance of Iwobi, who showed he has the raw attributes required to fill a similar role in the squad.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and is following the club from a London base throughout 2015/16. Follow him on Twitter here.