Premier League - Eduardo injured on return

Eurosport - Thu, 18 Dec 16:36:00 2008

Croatia forward Eduardo successfully returned from injury to start for Arsenal's reserves in a 2-0 win over Portsmouth, but suffered a hamstring strain.

FOOTBALL Arsenal's Eduardo (left) in action with Portsmouth's Richard Duffy during the Premier Reserve League South match - 0

Eduardo has been out for almost 10 months after suffering a horrific ankle and leg break in Arsenal's 2-2 Premier League draw with Birmingham City last season.

"I'm just so happy to be back playing after 10 months out," the player told Arsenal TV after the match. "I hope to be back playing at the same level or even better, but now it's just good to forget about all the bad things in my life."

The Brazilian-born striker lasted only 45 minutes before coming off with a hamstring injury that will sideline him for a further two weeks.

"I think everything will be okay with my hamstring and I should be playing before the New Year," he continued.

"I really enjoy playing for Arsenal and the national team of Croatia. There is a Croatia game in February and I should be able to play in that."

The former Croatia Zagreb man looked comfortable with the pace of the game as he got some early touches and ran freely.

He went down in the Portsmouth area on three minutes but was waved up by the referee.

Initially he did not look entirely sharp, as shown when he failed to control a Fran Merida pass which played him through on goal.

Later in the first half, the 25-year-old found himself with a half-chance after Jack Wilshere and Jay Simpson combined; however he was forced wide by Pompey's defence and was unable to get a shot in.

As the game progressed Eduardo improved and almost broke the deadlock on 41 minutes.

With a superb touch on the edge of the box, he cut left and sent in a sweet, curling effort that Asmir Begovic acrobatically tipped behind for a corner.

He was withdrawn at half-time for midfielder Amaury Bischoff, a summer signing who has also struggled with injury.

Eduardo's career-threatening injury, suffered after a tackle by Blues centre-back Martin Taylor, was successfully operated on and he was reported to be walking without crutches in the summer, although it has taken him until December to be considered fit enough for contact training.

His return will be a welcome boost for Gunners boss Arsene Wenger, who is without England forward Theo Walcott until spring because of a shoulder injury.

Reda Maher / Eurosport

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  1. I'v been reading all the posts and its nice to see­ genuine football fans wishing Eduardo well - apart from­ a few sick individuals on here theres hope for the game­ yet but we must stop the idiots who are ruining it for­ the majority.

    From michelle.lieberman23, on Fri 23 Jan 1:50AM

  2. Eduardo's return couldn't have been better­ timed. Hopefully his recovery will be complete and­ hitch-free just like it was 4 van Persie. Also hoping­ Rosicky and Walcott will follow suit soon so we can­ have some real competition upfront with Ade to put the­ midfield and defence under less pressure and get some­ off those small boys like Brendtner and co back to the­ reserves. Against Roma they have a chance to prove that­ the 2-0 defeat of Milan last season was no fluke.

    From mike onyibe, on Fri 19 Dec 12:11PM

  3. God is great that is why Eduardo is back on the pitch­ to play because i was watching that match when he got­ the injury and i thought that his career has ended! as­ Arsenal fans we are happy to have him back! i wish him­ quick recovery of that armstring injury so that he can­ play Liverpool on sunday. wish him all the­ best!
    KHAREEM TUMUTENDEREZE ARSENAL FAN MBARARA,­ UGANDA- EAST AFRICA.

    From Khareem, on Thu 18 Dec 4:50PM

  4. wellcome back epl it is good to see you playing maybe­ this can lift arsenal spirit up again,so that they can­ be winning back good to see you playing eduardo your­ style of playing is good. MAN.U FANS

    From oyedeji, on Thu 18 Dec 7:35AM

  5. No Not again

    From Club, on Thu 18 Dec 7:29AM

  6. As a United fan and a Lover of football in general i­ think its good to see eduardo back and its a credit to­ him and the arsenal doctors and all the people that­ have helped him to see the lad back on the football­ pitch after such a terrible injury Unlucky with the­ hamstring strain but after 10 months out with a career­ threatening injury i think he can handle 2 weeks :) All­ the best eduardo !

    From Eagle3777, on Wed 17 Dec 11:07PM

  7. ALL ENGLISH FOOTBALL
    PREMIER LEAGUE – FA CUP – CARLING­ CUP
    CHAMPIONS LEAGUE – UEFA CUP
    ALL MATCHES ON WEB: ­ PREMIER LEAGUE, LIGA, SERIE A, BUNDESLIGA AND CHAMPIONS­ LEAGUE - UEFA CUP
    ALL THE HIGH-LIGHTS OF PREMIER­ LEAGUE MATCHES

    From , on Wed 17 Dec 3:48PM

  8. Eduardo, good to see you back on pitch but it so­ unfuntunate that you have that strain. I wish you quick­ recovering because the team need your present.

    From Pedro, on Wed 17 Dec 3:23PM

  9. how good it is to see eduado on the up well done and­ lets hope you continue to improve and play the best­ football as you allways do. you are a beacon to those­ who have or get badly hurt that there is light at the­ end of the tunnel congratulations and happy exmas to­ you your familly and all arsenal supporters

    From OLIVER, on Wed 17 Dec 11:53AM

  10. Welcome back Edwuardo, I wish u all the best in your­ career. Long live, Eduardo, long live, long live­ soccer, long live premier league, long live Arsenal­ fans and long live Arsenal FC for life.

    From joe, on Wed 17 Dec 11:21AM

  11. It's DINAMO not CROATIA Zagreb...

    From Isnar, on Wed 17 Dec 11:13AM

  12. welcome to you eduardo, happy to have you back on the­ playing ground.

    From walexy, on Wed 17 Dec 11:10AM

  13. ATTENTION SUSSEXDIETCOKE YOUR COMMENTS 0720AM 17TH DEC­ REGARDS "NOW FOR THE OTHER LEG"
    WAS JUST­ ABOUT THE MOST TASTELESS COMMENT WE HAVE READ..YOU­ DON'T DERSERVE TO BE A FOOTBALL SUPPORTER, I­ SUSPECT YOU ARE NOT CONNECTED WITH THE BEAUTIFUL GAME­ AT ALL, AND SHOULD RESPOND WITH AN APOLOGY TO­ EDUARDO..HIS FAMILY..HIS DEVOUT SUPPORTERS..AND THE­ MANAGEMENT AND STAFF AT THE EMIRATES STADIUM..YOU­ DISGUST ME...OLD GOONER.

    From esther.melvyn, on Wed 17 Dec 10:49AM

  14. as an arsenal fan and member of afc ,i would like to­ say thanks to true football fans whom have welcomed­ back eduardo and hope he can help us continue to move­ forward with the young players ,wenger is so sure the­ team will come good .good luck all fans and merry­ christmas anda happy new year to all .

    From silverfox296, on Wed 17 Dec 10:02AM

  15. Now EDU is back, other teams should be aware of GUNNERS­ now becos he will definitely make the different,­ continue from where he left it last season

    From Moshood, on Wed 17 Dec 10:01AM
  16. Comment hidden due to its low rating. Show

    wenger will sell eduardo in the summer...

    From Bali Tenno, on Wed 17 Dec 9:57AM

  17. Ed is trully welcomed despite the little harmstring­ that troubled him later in the game. He's such a­ great lad whose composure in front of the goalkeeper is­ one to behold. Every soccer lover welcomes you back to­ the field and we all wish you well.
    McCarthy (Warri,­ Nigeria)

    From maconyi, on Wed 17 Dec 9:48AM

  18. Well done Eduardo.. I'm just thinking are you going­ to be on to play with Liverpool..?
    I hope so. See you­ there..

    From Ahmad, on Wed 17 Dec 9:37AM

  19. Pleased you are back. Wish you all the best. We truly­ missed you.

    From smusa, on Wed 17 Dec 9:29AM

  20. its a worm welcome but Wenger need to sign some two­ good defenders otherwise he might not save Arsenal when­ arsenal still has the likes of william gallas & the­ silvesters.

    From Brian, on Wed 17 Dec 9:25AM
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