Why Tomas Rosicky Deserves New Arsenal Contract

Tomas Rosicky has emerged as a vital part of the Arsenal squad. Given the struggles he has faced in his career, a new contract with the Gunners is the least he deserves.

Fortunately for Arsenal fans, a  new deal now seems something of a formality. Speaking to Sami Mokbel of the Daily Mail, Arsene Wenger confirmed:

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Tomas Rosicky will stay. We have an agreement with him and it will come out soon.

I am absolutely adamant he has to stay at the club.

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Wenger’s faith is well-placed. There is no-one quite like Rosicky. He plays a unique role at Arsenal, giving zip to the Gunners’ play and injecting the team with real urgency. Wenger went on:

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I think he is one of the players who plays the game of give and move. He is a great accelerator of the game. When the ball comes to him it goes into second gear and that is something I admire in him.

He always makes things happen, not with individual dribbling but with individual acceleration of his passing and of his runs.

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Despite being the oldest outfield member of the Arsenal squad, Rosicky plays with an effervescence more befitting of a far younger man. It’s almost as if the time he spent on the sidelines with injury preserved his vitality. In football years, he is two years younger, and his style of play reflects that youthful spirit.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Wenger alludes to Rosicky’s selflessness, and that is undoubtedly one of his greatest characteristics. He works tirelessly for the team, putting younger players to shame with his constant harrying and surprisingly effective sliding tackles.

As Rosicky has matured, his style has changed. He arrived as a playmaker and has metamorphosed in to a box-to-box dynamo. What’s more, he has become a leader. Wenger says:

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Today he is a real organiser on the pitch as well. I like to have him in the team because he gives a real structure to our team.

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In an Arsenal squad full of young talent, a player with Rosicky’s experience is invaluable. He sets an outstanding example for the younger players about how to operate both with and without the ball. The likes of Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain and Serge Gnabry can only learn from playing alongside someone with Rosicky’s attitude and technique.

Jamie McDonald/Getty Images

Think about Arsenal’s best performances over the last two years, and the chances are Rosicky was involved. In his last run-out against Sunderland, he was absolutely outstanding. With all the talk about the talented pair of Santi Cazorla and Mesut Ozil, Rosicky’s contribution is often overlooked. He might not be as flashy as those two, but he’s every bit as effective.

Arsene Wenger loves Rosicky, and the Arsenal fans do, too. The Czech midfielder might be ageing, but he’s showing no signs of slowing. A new contract is an absolute must.

James McNicholas is Bleacher Report's lead Arsenal correspondent and will be following the club from a London base throughout the 2013-14 season. Follow him on Twitter here.