Eduardo Strikes Again

Its FA Cup time of the year again. This time the draw has been kind to Arsenal with a 3rd round meeting at Turf Moor against a non-premier league side in Burnley. Being given such opportunity of playing against weaker opposition, again Wenger chose to put his trust in his fringe and up-and-coming players.

In came the likes of Senderos, Diaby, Traore, Denilson and Gilberto. All of them did reasonably well especially Senderos who knows that this is his chance to stake a claim for a longer run in the first team, now that Toure is away playing in the Ivory Coast colours. Wenger would surely like Senderos to step up and show the world his real qualities. Qualities which I believe were knocked down by another Ivorian in Didier Drogba. Maybe all this boy needs is another match up with the big Chelsea man and winning that battle. It will be like something from the movies. Overcome his fears and become the big hero everyone knew he was.

Eduardo was calmness personified when presented with the oppourtunity from a wonderful Toure clip forward. He drew the keeper out and placed the ball just past his finger tips into the bottom corner. Not back lift, no great power, no drag back, no dribble, just direct and precise placement of the ball. The was nothing the keeper could've done.

This match also provided Wenger with a pleasant headache. The pairing of Bendtner and Eduardo seemed to gel very well. In fact it they are better as a pair than they are with any other strike pairing. They did the job at Bramall Lane and completed this job with the same aplomb. Another quick interchange between the two, saw Bendtner with an opening. He rounded the keeper and finish with the same clinical technique of Eduardo.

The most suprising news of the evening was Diarra's absence from the bench, let alone the first 11. But then again, Wenger doesn't like grumbling personnel.