Tomas Rosicky has spoken about his first match back after injury and admitted that he didn’t expect such an unbelievable reception from the Arsenal fans.
The midfielder spent seven months sidelined through injury and now, after playing just one match back for the Gunners against Burnley in the FA Cup, the Czech international is injured again and might possibly have donned his Arsenal shirt for the last time.
Speaking about the reception he got upon his return, Rosicky admitted he was emotional and didn’t expect it.
“It was unbelievable, something I didn’t expect,” he said.
“Since the moment I started to warm up on the sidelines it was exceptional. Honestly, I had tears in my eyes after such a long time being out.
“I started to warm up and the reception was unbelievable and I will never forget it. Obviously it is the worse thing [getting injured again] and the feeling I cannot give the fans anything back at the moment is frustrating.
“I was out for a long time so obviously the relationship with the fans after 10 years was always great and they always knew I played my heart out and they always appreciated me and I appreciated them.”
He continued, “As I said it is heartbreaking I can’t give them anything back after the reception they prepared for me, but in life things will be thrown at you and you have to deal with it. You are defined by how you deal with these things and I will deal with it again and I will be back again.
“It’s been a hard few days for me to accept. Sometimes you always say that you can always do better or that you can always improve more and more, but I don’t know what more I could have done.”
Rosicky is heartbroken and I can honestly say, so am I.
The Little Mozart was a huge fan favourite as he always gave everything and the impact he could have just by being subbed on was huge. Despite being 35 years old he could still tear up the pitch like the rest of them, although admittedly for shorter lengths of time.
If he has played his last match for us, I’m sorry that it had to end like this.