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Eduardo’s back, Wenger cracks a smile: and was that a cheer?
NO need for jokes this week: Nicklas Bendtner has stolen that duty with claims he should be in the Arsenal first team for every match. Of course, every Gunners fan wants this cocky young buck to graduate into the elevated status he has given himself – but patience with his clumsy finishing is running thin. In truth, Arsenal fans hadn’t seen the best of Eduardo before his horrific injury either. It seems so long ago, but he was only just getting among the goals and clicking through the gears when his leg became too twisted to even look at.
So it remains to see whether his box of tricks will be Arsenal’s saviour in these bleak times – (bleak is of course all relative, let’s be clear: the club is not in a relegation battle à la Tottenham).
But whether he turns out to be a 20-goal a season man or a Darren Bent, Eduardo’s courage has rightly been celebrated in all quarters this week.
If every Arsenal player had shown the same amount of drive and commitment this season, the club’s Champions League place would surely not be in doubt. It must have been so frustrating to watch from the sidelines at some of the lethargic displays offered this season from a few of his team-mates, those point-sapping away trip performances when some of the Arsenal players have looked happy to settle for the embarrassment of being thrown into the UEFA Cup.
Arsenal fans should be proud he is a Gunner. His fellow forwards – van Persie excepted – should be inspired by him.
IT’S been quieter than usual at the Emirates Stadium this week as the Arsenal faithful struggle to find something to moan about.
For probably the first time since their overly talked about victory against AC Milan, Arsenal have satisfied their ungrateful groaners.
The return of Eduardo on Monday night resulted in all sorts of strange happenings.
First and most distressingly, I saw Arsene Wenger smile, reminding me of a horrible time several years ago when Arsenal were quite good and actually won trophies.
Second, I think I heard a cheer. I can’t be sure, but if it was a cheer – it was the first of 2009.
Third, and most annoyingly, the old ironic cries of “hoof” returned almost immediately as though 10 minutes of passing football cancels out the three months of hoofing that preceded it.
But, just in time to reassure me not all Gooners had lost their mind in the delirium of beating the Galacticos of Cardiff at the second attempt, Nicklas Bendtner cropped up to miss a sitter.
Bumbling about, his head too big for his boots, the self-proclaimed top striker of Arsenal football club resurrected the moans and groans that I’d feared may have been lost until their next failure.
Thank you Nicklas! I agree that you should play every minute of every game – otherwise there’s a chance some Arsenal fans might be happy. |
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