Eduardo Returns to Arsenal, Scores Twice in Win
Gunners Win 4-0 in FA Cup Over Cardiff City, Inspired by Croatian
Feb 16, 2009
Looking like he hadn’t missed a beat, Eduardo scored Arsenal’s opener in the 20th minute, then bagged a penalty just before the hour mark as Arsenal cruised to a 4-0 win over Cardiff City, booking their place in the fifth round of the FA Cup.
Eduardo orchestrated his own fairy tale return, as the Gunners broke from their own end. The Croatian hitman coasting up the wing and dispersed a nice pass to Carlos Vela on his left, then timed his run to perfection, heading Vela’s chipped cross into the Cardiff City net.
Eduardo Celebrates With Vela
An emotional Eduardo then slid on his knees in front of the Arsenal supporters at the Emirates Stadium and pumped his arms back in celebration. The whole Arsenal team, aside from keeper Lucasz Fabianski and injured William Gallas surrounded him and embraced him as a deafening roar went up in the stadium unlike anything Gunner supports have heard before.
It was a perfect moment and it was long coming, as Eduardo and his teammates were rampant through the early stages. It just seemed like it was a matter of time and the returning striker was more than happy to oblige.
His second came on a penalty during a scramble in the penalty area. He was barged over and tripped by Gavin Rae, and as Eduardo picked himself up off the turn, there was only one person who would take that penalty. Eduardo stepped up and confidently waited for the keeper to dive before slotting home in the other side of the net.
Celebrating With His Physio
His celebration this time was to blow a kiss to the Arsenal supporters and then hug the physio who helped him with the long and difficult recovery.
Eduardo almost sent the home fans into ecstasy, just failing to complete his hat trick before being withdrawn for Robin van Persie.
Eduardo has proven all doubters wrong with his return performance, and provided a new enduring image to replace those who could not forget the horror tackle from Birmingham’s Martin Taylor that shattered Eduardo’s leg and dislocate his ankle. It was unbelievable then to think that one week short of a year later he would return, let alone with this panache.
Arsenal won the match 4-0 thanks to Eduardo’s brace and goals from Nicklas Bendtner and van Persie. Bendtner and Vela played particularly well for the Gunners, and Bendtner was unlucky not to have a hat trick himself, but for hitting the post with a wide open net and forcing three or four top quality saves from Tom Heaton.
