Burnley 0 – 2 Arsenal: Eduardo the Icing on our Christmas Cake
3 comments January 7th, 2008
When Arsene Wenger said in late November that Eduardo could be our ‘secret weapon’, not everyone was convinced. Despite a few goals in the cups, the Croatian had looked way off the pace, particularly in domestic fixtures. However, in a Christmas period that brought a hefty haul of success, perhaps the biggest bonus was the emergence of Eduardo as a bonda fide match-winner.
Such was the case yesterday in a tricky cup tie at Burnley, who gave everything they had, but simply lacked a finisher in Da Silva’s class. As it was, Eduardo scored the first and, after Burnley had a man harshly sent off, made the second for Nicklas Bendtner. In his current form, the biggest surprise was that he didn’t grab a second, side-footing a one-one-one wide of the near post. So he is human after all…
Well, no-one is perfect. But Eduardo’s finishing is pretty close. The way he is able to take his first touch and get a shot away almost in the same motion, with no backlift, is remarkable. He is a percentage player who does the minimum neccessary to score – I don’t think we’ve had one of those since Ian Wright.
Our side didn’t perform especially well. Gilberto got a surprising start, but there was no sign of Lassana Diarra, who may be on the verge of a move. Jens Lehmann may also have played his last game for Arsenal. As I watched the match I did feel slightly sentimental about poor old Jens. Whatever’s gone on, he was always a great character, and often a great ‘keeper. Kolo Toure and Emmanuel Eboue both played their final games before departing for the African Cup of Nations: Kolo showed why we’ll miss him with a storming performance; Eboue showed why we won’t with a dreadful display.
So it’s into the fourth round and a home tie against Newcastle or Stoke, who will battle it out in a replay next week. I can’t really preview this as, considering Newcastle’s recent form, I haven’t the faintest idea who will go through.
Spurs up next. I couldn’t bear to see them win. Let’s make sure they don’t.
