Premier League - Eduardo: 'The best day of my life'

Eurosport - Tue, 17 Feb 14:08:00 2009

Arsenal's Eduardo da Silva has described scoring twice against Cardiff on his first appearance for a year as "the best day of my life"

2008-2009 Eduardo da Silva celebrates scoring his first goal for Arsenal since breaking his leg - 0

The Croatia forward has been out since February last year following a horrendous leg break - but proved his fitness on international duty in midweek.

That convinced manager Arsene Wenger to hand him a recall in place of Robin van Persie for Monday night's FA Cup fourth-round replay against Cardiff, and the Frenchman was rewarded with a fine first-half effort and a second-half penalty which Eduardo earned and then converted.

Nicklas Bendtner and Van Persie also got on the scoresheet as Cardiff were comprehensively outclassed 4-0. But the night belonged to Eduardo, whose return was greeted with gusto by the Emirates faithful.

"It was the best day of my life," he said. "It was a special moment to score, very emotional. I celebrated by kissing my wedding ring - because my wife and daughter and family supported me right through this."

Wenger, meanwhile, paid tribute to the striker's reserves of mental strength.

"Everybody is very happy for him. This is the kind of game we love to play, and it was good to see them play with the handbrake off," he said.

"He played a big part in that, and I'm very pleased for him.

"He's been extremely strong mentally. I've never seen one minute of doubt in his mind, not one minute where he said 'I don't want to do this'.

"He is always wanting more. This guy is small but he has the mental strength of a mountain."

The night was not without its worries - Eduardo came off with a slight hamstring complaint - but Wenger insisted he could yet prove crucial to the Gunners' season.

"He had a slight tightness of the hamstring, but we expect it will be a small thing," he added.

"We'll know at the end of the season how important it [his comeback] is, but I'm very happy to have him back. He can play as a striker, on the flank, behind the striker, up front on his own. That is important for us."

Despite leaking four goals, Bluebirds goalkeeper Tom Heaton - on loan from Arsenal's Premier League rivals Manchester United - put in a fine display.

He made a stunning double save from Carlos Vela and Nicklas Bendtner - both from virtually point-blank range - but was in top form throughout to ensure Cardiff did not go home on the end of an embarrassing scoreline.

Boss Dave Jones said: "All I can take from the game is that Tom played very well. If it wasn't for him it could have been a cricket score.

"I'm glad the game is over, because we didn't do ourselves justice whatsoever.

"Sometimes when you come to an Arsenal or one of the big clubs you just have to suffer for 90 minutes - and I think we suffered for 90 minutes. I don't think we did ourselves any justice.

"If I could have substituted 10 of them I would have, because we just didn't perform."

Sporting Life / Eurosport

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  1. tony439 your damn right......................

    From Ceesay, on Tue 17 Feb 11:44PM

  2. WHAT A PLAYER WHAT AN IDOL WHAT A GOAL SCOERER..ITS­ TRUE WHAT THEY SAY ABOUT HIM THAT HE WAS POOR ETC. BUT­ HE PROVED HIMSELF TO BE TOUGHER THAN THE SITUATION..HE­ IS DA FUCIN MAN..EDUARDO IS JUST AN OUTSTANDING EXAMPLE­ FOR MANY YOUNG FOOTBALLERZ INCLUDING MY SELF!!HE PLAYD­ ND SKORED LIKE HE WAS NEVER EVEN INJURED.....ARSENAL­ NOW FINALLY GETS TO RECOVER AND SOON ENOUGH FABREGAS­ WILL BE BACK YALL...ARSENAL IS BACK IN BIZNESS BABY...

    From AMS14, on Tue 17 Feb 11:09PM

  3. I stand by my opinion that Eduardos injury last year­ ruined Arsenals season. You only needed to look at the­ faces of Gallas and Fabregas to see how bad the injury­ was. The whole team seemed to go into shock and never­ recovered. To see him back is great, to see him so­ impressive is even better. He is probably the best role­ model in the premier league - if you look back at his­ past he was so poor he lived in the stadium at his last­ club... Sincerely wish him the best for the future.­ IRONS TILL I DIE !!!

    From paulblower2001, on Tue 17 Feb 9:54PM

  4. yeah eduardo
    you must show them, that they REALLY­ missed you...
    up to the top gunners

    From Olah, on Tue 17 Feb 8:30PM

  5. WELCOME BACK EDUARDO COULD HAVE BEEN A HAT TRICK WHAT A­ STORY THAT WOULD HAVE MADE.NOW GET RID OF BENDTNER YEAH­ HE SCORED ONE BUT AGAIN MISSED SITTERS.

    From esther.melvyn, on Tue 17 Feb 7:39PM

  6. watch out 4 football! UP GUNNERS!!!!

    From Akintunde Oluwagbemiga, on Tue 17 Feb 6:18PM

  7. Eduardo's a legend man, i'm glad we've got­ him back. I really hope we can win something this year

    From Amit, on Tue 17 Feb 5:44PM

  8. Its obvious to see and read, that seeing Eduardo come­ back in such spectacular fashion has given the fans a­ massive boost. I too was giving him a standing ovation­ infront of my TV when he was sub'd. It was also­ easy to see the team around him responded to his­ comeback and raised their game accordingly. This could­ be a big turning point of the season for Arsenal. If­ Arshavin makes just as big an impact as Eduardo's ­ and Cesc too when he comes back then its going to be a­ great end to the season....

    From tony439, on Tue 17 Feb 3:13PM

  9. Do you know that Fabregas said his returning very soon?­ And I heard they bought Arshavin. Arsenal Second on the­ league. Come watch attacking football.

    From edwinclarkandassociates, on Tue 17 Feb 2:48PM

  10. Yes scott @#$%, against cardiff last years FA's­ finalist.

    From hisham n, on Tue 17 Feb 2:46PM

  11. This is a man who has confidence to face the post. How­ many of you can take a penalty decision of that manner­ and score it in a very convincing manner. Welcome back­ arsenal. Now you know Kolo and Gallas can hold that­ back better. Sylvester pls rest. Djouro i am thinking­ that u need to be a mid fielder not a defender. Gunners­ till i DIE

    From edwinclarkandassociates, on Tue 17 Feb 2:30PM

  12. eduardo is preffered 2 ademumu.

    From david u, on Tue 17 Feb 2:25PM

  13. Bendtner is the man of the match

    From Abba Mai Adda, on Tue 17 Feb 2:23PM

  14. pls that wos just cardiff city,lest be humble roma is­ caming soon that will be the time we all need im to be­ strong mentaly.peace out edu

    From Pedro, on Tue 17 Feb 2:04PM

  15. Re post 55 alankshort.

    They suffered mobility in their­ legs? What does this mean exactly? You take the high­ ground and then you make yourself look a @#$%. Also the­ 'world class physio team they have at Arsenal'­ is now a standard you will find across all the top­ clubs in europe, not much to boast about really. Its­ like Man U fans boasting to have an all seater stadium.

    From nicci, on Tue 17 Feb 2:03PM

  16. He's dead right it would be the happiest day of my­ life if I recovered from breaking my leg in two places­ with maybe my career in tatters and then scoring two­ goals in my first match back. What a legend!

    From wevegotelnino, on Tue 17 Feb 1:57PM

  17. thank GOD for eduardo to have made it before the season­ runs out. Expecting much more from him to top the­ table. goodluck to all arsenal fans. Gunners 4 life

    From Ajay, on Tue 17 Feb 1:55PM

  18. Whoever gave mcguire2197 (post number 38) the thumbs­ down is a muppet. Whats wrong with saying "Nice to­ see Eduardo playing again and scoreing goals"?

    From wevegotelnino, on Tue 17 Feb 1:51PM

  19. comment 31 obviously doen't have a clue, many­ players young or old have had to retire from injuries.­ The fact that eduardo not only broke his leg but­ dislocated his ankle could have led to complications­ and if it wasn't for the world class physio team­ they have at Arsenal his career could have been over.­ I've known people, not all personally, that have­ suffered very similar injuries and have suffered­ mobility in their legs afterwards.

    But it's good­ to see that eduardo doesn't have any ill effect­ from his injury and will be back better than ever

    From alankshort, on Tue 17 Feb 1:38PM

  20. Our prayers and tributes are paid off when they­ strecthered you off that fatefull eve with the cunning­ tackle of Taylor.God always answers prayers

    From sevs, on Tue 17 Feb 1:33PM
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