Arsenal’s Reserves return to action tomorrow evening with an away trip to West Bromwich Albion – their first test since the winter break.
Neil Banfield’s boys have had mixed form this campaign, but currently sit in a very respectable 2nd place in the Reserves League South table. Last time out they edged past a hard working and well organised Portsmouth outfit, but the result was almost forgotten about.
Why? because fans favourite Eduardo da Silva started and played 45 minutes – his first action since suffering a fractured fibula and a dislocated ankle during the 2-2 draw with Birmingham last February.
The 25-year-old had a timid start, before finally finding his feet and smashing Amir Begovic’s post. Without doubt Dudu showed his class. His quick feet, intelligent runs, perfect positioning – it was exactly the same marksman as before.
Yet whenever there was a physical battle, Eduardo seemed cautious and a little frightened at the prospect of taking another clobbering. With the home support as it was, realistically nobody was going to stick their boot in on the Croatian International.
But tomorrow evening sees a tricky trip to the Midlands to take on West Brom. He’ll be playing just miles away from the Selly Oak Hospital where surgeons fought to save his career just 11 months ago.
Arsène Wenger believes his number 9 will be back, and even better than ever, on one condition. He overcomes the mental side of the game – the fear of the same injury happening again. The Baggies are almost certain to be a much tougher prospect to that of Pompey, and without the protection of his home faithful, Eduardo must stand up and fight for himself, and his team.
We’ll know a lot more about how far away the most promising finisher in the Premier League is from a first team return on the final whistle – and Young Guns will be bringing you full coverage of the fixture from tomorrow afternoon.
Article By – J.Sanderson
Dudu will be back to his best…
Will keep a close eye on the game on Arsenal TV…..welcome back Dudu.
lets hope eduardo gets close to 90 mins and if he scores that will be a boost to his confidence. Maybe he should speak to cisse who has had bad leg breaks and has a good attitude and has been in good form as a result. I wonder if jay simpson will play for brom reserves that night? Also interested in bischoff who if we dont get a winger in jan could maybe be a stand in for ‘taken for granted’ theo.
I think you’re being a bit harsh with your description of Eduardo’s reactions in the last match. He made one sliding tackle of his own, which didn’t look like a man who was cautious or frightened. For his first game back after such an injury, I thought he did okay and his confidence will grow as he gets more game time under his belt.
Is it posible to watch this game through the Internet or on tv?
It’s on Arsenal TV Online. And on Arsenal TV. But you have to pay for it, unless you have the setanta package.
i didnt realise i sounded harsh on eduardo as it certainly wasnt my intention. I want him to come back soon and realise march or april is more realistic than rushing him back when he may not be pyscologically ready. Van persie is looking in good form and as long as he’s fit, there’s no need to bring eduardo in ahead of schedule.
Hopefully Eduardo will come thru unscathed, edging his way to a 1st team appearance!
Im happy to watch again dudu and im very curius about nordveit.
Do you think he’ll get any first team action this season or will Wenger wait until next season?
The game has been canceled, this was announced yesterday…
how do you know holly
yes welcome back man and good luck..
Good luck DUDU
It hasn’t been made public yet, but the players have been told that it may not go ahead, depending on what the ground staff can do, but the ground was solid yesterday morning and stayed so throughout the day, and it got incredibly foggy in the evening and even colder, meaning the ground had no time to soften up.
It’s not a 100%, but unless the groundsman can soften it up somehow and the predicted fog stays away, it won’t go ahead.
J. Sanderson,
If Wilshere has signed his contract, why hasn’t Arsenal announced it yet?
Are you 100% sure it’s signed?
Am happy 2 hear that dudu is playin again 2moro. i only hope he doesnt get injured durin the game
halo guyz, can anyone tell me who arsene is most likely 2 buy in this transfer window? n how true is this rumor abt stephen ireland?
Off topic, but Jason Banton (left us again) – http://photos-g.ak.fbcdn.net/photos-ak-snc1/v1605/36/119/1653309194/n1653309194_97558_1083.jpg – what an idiot.
Looking forward to watching the game, although Arsenal tv is being weird atm, ny1 know nything about that?
crafty bison, what’s so idiotic about that??
He’s taken a photo and put it on facebook, good for him, doesn’t make him an idiot.
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Edy, just believe in yourself that you can make it.Always remember faith conquers fears……Just do what your heart’s desire and HE will do the rest….
Dudu has to pick himself up from a few crunching tackles; then psychogically, he knows he is fully healed and ready for the hustle of first team football again. I remember Viera coming back from an injury actually thanked his opponent who tackled him. And, Adams who was sent to a clinic in France, said after that they were trying to “break” his ankle. Its all done to show the player that all has healed and can take punnishment. Hopefully, Dudu experience the same and come back stronger.
Am so happy when i here that eduardor is in action and he is going to play today,s match i only hope he dosnt injured again well come back dudu.
i have full confidence in him to come back better than before. he looks like a very mentally and physically strong lad. btw once again do check out http://arseneknowsbest.wordpress.com/. This wonderful site is for the young guns and for the senior guns check out my blog! :)
Pitch inspection arranged for 12.30pm to decide on fixture
Does anyone with inside knowledge know why there’s still no official confirmation of Wilshere signing a professional contract?
any updates on the pitch inspection? nothing on the arsenal site yet
gd, it’s on Arsenal.com now
WILSHERE HAS SIGNED PRO TERMS ITS BEEN ANNOUNCED.
Wilshere’s contract confirmation is now up on the official site.
Yay! I got my confirmation, on the official site now. Wilshere signed. Seems like a good tactic, both times I raised my concerns I got my answers about an hour later.
game’s off aparently
Yup, games off.
games cancelled
why has it been cancelled?
kidderminster harriers’ pitch where the game was to be played is frozen.
Its annoying as this game would have given Eduardo more match fitness for him to be considered on Saturday (only for bench though).
Hopefully Wenger might include him still as the next reserve game is not til towards the end of the month
havent these teams heard of underfloor heating?
Cant believe it was going to be at the kiddi ground! I live like 10mins away!
I’m sure kidderminster have heard of underfloor heating, but don’t think (like many non-league teams) they can afford to have it put in. Guess you Gooners will have to wait that bit longer for Albion reserves to give your boys a beating.
Boing Boing!
http://www.thebaggiesblog.wordpress.com
Holly – because we don’t want “bling teens” and their bad attitudes.
If they’re good enough, who cares what they wear, he’s not on our books anymore so we don’t need to worry about him, he was very popular amongst the other players (baring a couple) and is a pretty kind lad.
“Bling Teens.” Sounds like you’ve had a run in with someone who wears jewelery, get over it. x
What about Walcott? He won’t leave us, won’t he?