This era is often regarded as ‘peak Wenger ball.’
Once upon a time at the Emirates, everything was peaceful, the football was free flowing and there wasn’t a #WengerOut banner in sight.
Pivotal to the ‘Wenger ball’ that we all got accustomed to seeing, was a midfield that had a bit of everything; technique, natural talent and bite.
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to sign up for this summer’s brilliant fantasy football game
Tomas Rosicky, Cesc Fabregas, Mathieu Flamini and Alexander Hleb, are the unlikely foursome who produced this.
Rosicky is bidding farewell to football today, in a testimonial match that will bring with it the reunion of one of the Premier League’s most understated midfields.
Fabregas, Rosicky, Flamini and Hleb, will lineup alongside each other once again in the testimonial, ten years since the formidable foursome were broken up.
The match, taking place in Rosicky’s home town of Prague, will see a Czech Republic team take on a World team, the latter made up almost exclusively of former Arsenal players.
Not an immediately memorable midfield to fans outside of North London, the foursome achieved cult hero status with Arsenal supporters, donning the nickname ‘the four musketeers.’
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Click here to sign up for this summer’s brilliant fantasy football game
They unfortunately failed to win any major trophies when they were all together at Arsenal, coming closest to winning the Premier League in the 2007-08 season.
The Gunners looked clear favourites for the title, before suffering a monumental collapse, remembered most by the injury to Eduardo when everything went downhill.
It still hurts…
The reunion will (hopefully) bring back better memories for Arsenal fans however, in what was a period where supporters were treated to brilliant football every week at the Emirates.
Arsenal’s style of play at this time was conducted by the wizardry of Fabregas, Rosicky and Hleb.
The trio were given the freedom to express themselves knowing that they had the steel of Flamini behind them, the young Frenchman had been a revelation that particular season.
Arsenal fans remember the period fondly
The foursome were eventually broken up in the summer of 2008.
Hleb left for Barcelona and Flamini rejected a new contract at the Emirates, joining AC Milan instead.
Fabregas would eventually leave Arsenal for Barcelona in 2011, before Rosicky rejoined his boyhood club Sparta Prague in 2016.
The foursome shared some good times and some terrible outfits together…
Rosicky’s testimonial match will be streamed live on Arsenal.com from 4pm.
The graceful midfielder earned himself the nickname ‘little Mozart’ and spent 10 years at the Emirates.
Much of Rosicky’s Arsenal career was blighted by injuries, in a situation similar to Santi Cazorla.
Rosicky managed to win two FA Cups with the Gunners, before rejoining his boyhood club Sparta Prague in 2016.
An injury picked up in his second season would signal his retirement from football.
Rosicky’s farewell match features some impressive talent
We aren’t sure what Robin van Persie is doing in the World team though, it’s all still a bit too raw…
DREAM TEAM WORLD CUP Sign up to this summer’s brilliant game below