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He was withdrawn at half-time for midfielder Amaury Bischoff, a summer signing who has also struggled with injury.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. welcome back Eduardo, even tho im a Birmingham City­ Fan, its good to see a great player back on a football­ pitch, i hope you have an amazing career with Arsenal.­ I also want Arenal for kick seven bells out of­ liverpool cause they are @#$% and they will never win­ the Prem NEVER theres more change of Man City winning­ it.
    Come on you Blue Boy's we need to get back to­ winning ways and get about Wolve's. BCFC KEEP RIGHT­ ON!

    From ash_y2k42003, on Tue 16 Dec 11:55PM

  2. mimimutanga - how is Essien - English? Stupidest­ comment of the day - congratulations.

    Welcome back­ Eduardo. Maybe when you are fit, Arsenal can start to­ challenge again. I predict a strong last couple of­ months for the Gooners, with Walcott back about then­ too...potential FA Cup winners....?

    From SIMON, on Tue 16 Dec 11:33PM

  3. So good to see him back. Can't wait to see him back­ in Croatian national team. Samo je jedno u mom zivotu­ vrijedno......pozdrav iz Hrvatske

    From vex_flores, on Tue 16 Dec 11:15PM

  4. as a biringham fan im glad to see this horrific­ accident behind him an hop he bk in prem leaguesooner­ rther than later welcome bk eduardo

    From Richard M, on Tue 16 Dec 11:07PM

  5. yes, once again he's back to show some brasilian­ touch we're tired with english touches
    such as­ agbonlaor,lampard,essien

    From mimimutanga, on Tue 16 Dec 11:04PM

  6. welocme back our fox in the box , you look good wearing­ the number 10 today!!

    From chris, on Tue 16 Dec 11:02PM

  7. Scott S you are what we like to call a moron, who­ speaks england, really? English. And also to wish­ injury on any palyer is un-called for, so piss off with­ your anti liverpool hormonal pregancy anger and just­ comment on the fact that its good to see a players­ career not ruined by a reall nasty injury.

    From tunny87, on Tue 16 Dec 10:35PM

  8. what the hell is wrong with people, the man has no­ chance of playing against liverpool, torres has more­ chance of playing-the gooners title chances are­ over-there might be slip ups but not for chelsea,­ liverpool and man u it won't happen.

    From NEIL, on Tue 16 Dec 10:35PM

  9. OLD GOONER WELCOMES BACK THE LITTLE GENIUS..BUT MR­ WENGER, DON'T PUT THE PRESSURE ON HIM, WE DON'T­ WANT TO HAVE HIM INJURED AGAIN, LOOK WHAT HAPPENED TO­ ROBIN V. P.. BY THE WAY, WHAT DOES RIO FERDIGOB KNOW­ ABOUT WHO'S GOING TO WIN THE PREMIERSHIP AND WHO­ ISN'T ?? AFTER ONLY 17 GAMES PLAYED THEIRS STILL A­ LONG WAY TO GO, AND IT AIN'T OVER TILL THE FAT LADY­ SINGS AS THEY SAY..LET'S WAIT AND SEE..ARSENAL ARE­ NOT OUT OF IT. MERRY CHRISTMAS FELLOW YAHOO WRITERS.. ­ OLD GOONER..

    From esther.melvyn, on Tue 16 Dec 10:15PM

  10. I hate Liverpool so hope arsenal win. but this guy, who­ may be a nice guy I dnt no, comes across now as a good­ guy because he doesnt speak enough england to be­ arrogant yet.

    And he is not a hero! that word gets­ used so much with absolutely no foundation.

    never wish­ players injury though( part from gerrard) so hope he­ gets fit and starts enjoying his football again soon

    From yip, on Tue 16 Dec 10:06PM

  11. glad to see him back and managing 45 mins after ten­ months out. just hope the prof doesn't push him­ into the 1st team too quick, just look what happened­ with the perse the last 2 seasons. maybe now our­ strikers will play hard and fight hard for places and­ goals.eduardo could still clock up 10-15 prem goals­ this season!!!!!!

    From mrcsd21, on Tue 16 Dec 9:44PM

  12. The finisher is back, eduardo is deadly when through on­ goal, he never seems to miss the target, but he has to­ be fully fit. GOOD LUCK.

    From bobby and sandy, on Tue 16 Dec 9:32PM

  13. t o david 881- your a complete moran! learn to have­ some respect. The guy just came back from a horrific­ injury and your dirty scouse mouth says to hit him­ hard?! your a loser bro!!!!!

    From mr.davecanon, on Tue 16 Dec 9:29PM

  14. he will score against liverpool

    From CHRISTINA, on Tue 16 Dec 9:27PM

  15. Welcome back #9, your time isn't up!

    From James, on Tue 16 Dec 9:24PM

  16. good to see him back

    From ANDREW, on Tue 16 Dec 9:16PM

  17. Being a L,F,C supporter I find it very good news for­ the game of football.
    With all the prima donnas playing­ these days it is heartening to see Eduardos
    return. The­ man comes across to be a decent individual. Long may he­ grace the
    football pitch. I wish him luck.

    From Dave, on Tue 16 Dec 9:13PM

  18. i hope he does play against liverpool (cos he`s nowhere­ near fit) and that mascherano or gerrard make sure that­ when he gets the ball they hit him fair but very very­ hard

    From SHARP AS A NEEDLE, on Tue 16 Dec 9:11PM

  19. wassup risker are you and you`re boyfriend about to­ climax

    From SHARP AS A NEEDLE, on Tue 16 Dec 9:06PM

  20. huray ,the hero is­ back!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    From SANDRA, on Tue 16 Dec 9:03PM
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