We are all aware that Tomas Rosicky has made it clear that he wants to leave Arsenal so that he can actually play every week rather than sit on the bench, and we also know that Arsene Wenger has upset the Czech international by exercising the club’s right to extend his contract by another 12 months, but do we know WHY the 34 year-old wants to leave after so many years of loyal service?
I will tell you. Rosicky is currently with the Czech national side, and today he will win his 100th cap for his country when they take on Iceland in a Euro2016 Qualifier. Tomas obviously loves his country very much and has been talking to uefa.com about his upcoming landmark century ahead of tonight’s game. “The first game always comes to mind more than the others.” Rosicky said. “It was in Ireland and I came off the bench, substituting Pavel Nedvěd for the last eight or so minutes,”
“That debut seems so long ago that I do not even remember if I was nervous. I might have the shirt somewhere at home, though. I thought I might get nostalgic with the 100th game approaching, but I do not feel it. The success of the team seems the most important thing. We need to play good football and get the right result.”
“Everything is different from when I got my first cap. There have been many different coaches, many great players have come through the team. Of course different football is played nowadays; it is very hard to make any comparisons as everything has changed.”
This 100th appearance will make him the third highest for his country and he will need another 18 to match the great Karel Poborsky, and with his country currently at the top of Group A he is hoping to have his final send off at the Euros in France next summer. This is the real reason that he needs to play regularly, as he is very worried that he may have to be dropped from the Czech side if he is not playing at all for Arsenal.
Rosicky made it clear where his priorities lay: “Before the start of qualifying we were talking about whether I would continue or not, so we shall see what the future brings,” he said. “The EURO is the focus, from the perspective not just of my international career but also my career as a whole. The national team plays a crucial part for me. I cannot step off the gas – I am captain and must lead in the right way.”
So there we have the truth from the horses mouth.He just wants to play, and help his country one last time in France next year. Should Wenger deny him that career-defining end game?