Per and Tomas sign new deals and memories of past games

By Walter Broeckx

With the spring in the air it was time for some good news must have been the thought of Arsenal.

Well it is an early spring where I live and already the first flowers are making themselves visible. This really is early.  Temperatures rising to even 15°C in the weekend is the forecast. Add to that some sunshine and we might have our first day out on the outside terrace or patio. If you ever visit Belgium in the summer just look at the pubs and their outside tables. This is where we like to sit with a lovely beer brewed in Belgium in hand or in my case a light soft drink.

After this brief holiday advice I will however return to the reason I started writing this article: Per and Tomas.  The news appeared on the Arsenal website on Tuesday and really made my day.   I have been a big fan of Per and have written a dozen articles about our big German defender.  This really is for me all that I want in a player. Of course we all would like the Messi, Ronaldo player but you cannot have 11 of them in one team. You might score 10 goals each match but the chance you concede as many is rather big.

So you need defenders. And if possible big is an extra. You don’t really need them all that big as Per as that also might be not what you need. But one such giant defender is great. And certainly when he not only has the legs but also has the brains. We have seen enough big defenders who don’t use their head. But with Per you know that you have one that will use this in his advantage.

Reading the pass before the striker even realises what pass he is going to make is something that he does rather often. Of course this goes unnoticed as it isn’t fancy at all. But I remember sitting in the North Bank the other day and seeing him make a tackle to block a pass that I still wonder how on earth he saw that pass coming.  And by blocking that pass he stopped what might have turned in to a dangerous attack for Sunderland. In fact there was a big sheer from the Gooners in the stadium when he made that block tackle. We may have a few idiots as fans but the vast majority does seem to know a good player when they see one.

What also is  nice about Per is that he has been a fan since he was a kid.  And that he is very proud to wear the shirt. As he said and I copy this from the Arsenal website: “On my first visit to England as a boy I brought an Arsenal jersey as a souvenir and was so proud wearing it when playing football with my friends. Many years later, I have become a real Gunner, being even more proud to wear the Arsenal jersey. I am truly thankful to the Club and all the supporters for the time I have had here so far. And today I am deeply proud to have extended my contract with Arsenal. I’m proud to be a Gunner.”

I know what you mean Per, I completely know what you mean. I’ve been there myself although all I could afford myself at the time was an Arsenal scarf.  But I wore it with pride at the time. Still do of course. Not that one as it got lost when moving house later on but now I have my official Arsenal scarf I got when I renewed my membership.  And the others I bought myself in the Armoury.  But I must admit that I never really got to the playing myself part that Per did got in to. Oh well, can’t have it all….

The fact that Tomas Rosicky also signed an extension to his contract is also something that makes me happy. I have known him from his days at Borrusia Dortmund.  Didn’t he also score a penalty against us one day? I hated him on that moment but I knew that he was a fine player and one that I would love to see in the Arsenal shirt.

I got my wish. And Rosicky is one of those players that will always have a special place in my heart.  As I have said before my first ever trip to the Emirates was a bit of a heroic battle (ok a bit exaggerated) against the bad forces. My car broke down, had to rent a car in Maidstone to continue the trip, my phone suddenly didn’t work in England,  had booked tickets not via the official ways (I know I have sinned will never do it again)  but it was for a good cause. It was to make sure that my children would have the same experience I once had when I saw Arsenal play for the first time.

But we got our tickets and we all were amazed by the sensational sight of the Emirates and Arsenal playing Bolton. But still having a bit of a bad feeling about the trip and how to get back home when the game started. And to make things worse after 11 minutes Anelka opened the score for Bolton.  Knowing that as I started my Arsenal supporting career with a home defeat all those years ago I hoped and prayed that my children would not have to undergo this. Can you imagine having to get back home with a half a decent car after a defeat….

And who came to my rescue at that moment? Yes Tomas Rosicky. I still can see it when I close my eyes how Tomas anticipated that cross coming in from the right flank and he got first on to the ball and scored my first ever Arsenal goal at the Emirates.  The delight I felt at that moment will always be linked with Tomas. He literally started to save my day at that moment.  Later on Cesc Fabregas made sure of the win at the start of the second half.  The reason why also Cesc always had a very very special place in my heart. They both saved my day and turned the nightmare in to a sweet memory.

So Tomas Rosicky possibly leaving was something I didn’t want to happen and now I can be relaxed about it.

Great to have both these top players at our club for the future. Long may they stay, long may they be part of our great club. Thank you for signing.