Eduardo out for 2 weeks & Arshavin to make debut 19 February, 2009

Just as after Eddy’s reserve comeback, he’s picked up a hamstring injury on his return and will have to sit out for two weeks. It’s disappointing to lose him because he would’ve been a boost to the side this weekend but we’ll have to make do without him. Wenger revealed today how unfortunate the circumstances were in which Eddy picked up the injury:

“Eduardo is out for two weeks. He picked up a hamstring injury two minutes before I took him off. What a nightmare.

Nobody knows how it happened but I knew straight away after the game it would be a two-week job. It is nothing like he had before but I do know that little set-backs like this are part of being nine months out.

How unlucky. Wenger admitted it is a blow to lose him again because he played really well on Monday night and he is a proven goal scorer. This means that Eduardo and Adebayor will be returning from injury at the same time and directly competing for a place. On the basis of Monday night and Adebayor’s form this season – the Croatian will be getting the place.

It’s a shame but we just have to get on with it, these things happen. It was great seeing him back the other night and Martin Taylor has also declared how happy he is to see him back scoring. He also says that there was a lot of attention around him at the time of the leg break which he did not like but insists he did go to see Eduardo in hospital over the weekend of his injury and has sent his well-wishes to him over the past 12 months. This is coming back off the story from Eduardo himself insisting he has not spoken to Taylor since the challenge and has no intentions to. It’s a bit strange really, maybe Taylor did go to see him but Eduardo didn’t realise? I don’t know, I just want to forget about this now and look forward to Eddy’s fresh start. Not going to stop me still calling Martin Taylor a cunt though, mind.

One man who will be playing on Saturday is Andrey Arshavin. Arsene has confirmed he should be involved in some way or another but isn’t sure how yet. I suspect Wenger will wait until tomorrow evening to decide whether he is ready to start or not. Also, with Eduardo now out Arsene might consider playing him behind van Persie; it is an option but Bendtner played very well against Cardiff so I can see him getting another start.

Eboue is back after suspension, so if Andrey isn’t fit I guess it’ll be him coming back in. I think we are all in agreement that we don’t want to happen so lets hope Arshavin is good to go.

Johan Djourou will also be back after sitting out Monday’s game. He felt too ill to play that night but has recovered in time for tomorrow. I’m expecting him to start.

With those two back, the injury list is now as follows: Abou Diaby (thigh), Mikael Silvestre (thigh), Emmanuel Adebayor (hamstring), Cesc Fabregas (knee), Theo Walcott (shoulder) and Tomas Rosicky (hamstring tendon). Diaby, Silvestre, Ade and Cesc are due back in the next couple of weeks. Walcott and Cesc could also make that date but could need a little more time. I think Rosicky is about a month and a half away now, unless he suffers another setback.

‘The Beast’ has been talking about next week’s Arsenal vs. Roma game saying that Roma have a slight advantage over us because they have more experience than our young side. However he is still weary of us and thinks that all the Italian sides facing Premier League sides next week will have a tough task. It’s going to be a great game next week. I can’t wait. I’m actually going to be out of the country for the match, I’m off to Amsterdam on Monday morning so I’m going to have to find a bar out there to watch it, I’m sure I’ll manage….

Well that’s your lot for tonight then. A Sunderland preview tomorrow evening, until then.