By Rob Carragher Last updated: 21st November 2008
Eduardo: targeting Christmas return
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has revealed that he expects striker Eduardo da Silva to return to training next week, following a spell of almost nine months on the sidelines.
The Brazil-born Croat has not played since breaking his leg and dislocating his ankle during Arsenal's trip to Birmingham on 23rd February - a game which many feel was the beginning of the end for Arsenal's title ambitions last season.
And with the club looking well off the pace so far this year, Arsenal fans will be hoping that the striker's long-awaited comeback can serve to ignite their faltering league campaign this time around.
"Eduardo is doing very well and is one week away from joining in training," Wenger confirmed in his pre-match press conference on Friday.
After such an extended period out of action the front man is unlikely to return to the first team before Christmas.
But faced with a notoriously heavy schedule around that time, Wenger will no doubt be keen to have even a half-fit Eduardo at his disposal.

Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Blog
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ferguson
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Ancelotti
Chelsea 1-0 Man Utd - Terry
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Zola
West Ham 1-2 Everton - Moyes
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Martinez
Wigan 1-1 Fulham - Hodgson
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Liverpool vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Liverpool vs Man City |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Burnley vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Wolverhampton |
| 15:00 | Hull vs West Ham |
| 15:00 | Sunderland vs Arsenal |
| 17:30 | Man Utd vs Everton |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Bolton vs Blackburn |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Wigan |
| 16:00 | Stoke vs Portsmouth |
| Wednesday 25th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Hull vs Everton |
| 20:00 | Fulham vs Blackburn |
| Saturday 28th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Bolton |
| 15:00 | Man City vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Portsmouth vs Man Utd |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Wigan vs Sunderland |
| 17:30 | Aston Villa vs Tottenham |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| West Ham 2 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Sunday 1st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Birmingham 0 - 0 Man City | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 2 - 0 Blackburn | |
| Sunderland 2 - 2 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Bolton 0 - 4 Chelsea | |
| Stoke 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Fulham 3 - 1 Liverpool | |
| Burnley 2 - 0 Hull | |
| Everton 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 12 | 30 |
| 2 | Arsenal | 11 | 25 |
| 3 | Manchester United | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 5 | Aston Villa | 12 | 21 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 11 | 20 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 11 | 18 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 12 | 17 |
| 9 | Stoke City | 12 | 16 |
| 10 | Burnley | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 11 | 15 |
| 12 | Everton | 11 | 15 |
| 13 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 14 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 15 | Birmingham City | 11 | 11 |
| 16 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 17 | Hull City | 12 | 11 |
| 18 | West Ham United | 12 | 10 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 12 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Skysports.com looks at the best and worst moments from the latest round of top-flight fixtures.
Have a read through the skysports.com debate on Chelsea's 1-0 win over Man Utd at Stamford Bridge.
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
A John Terry header proved the difference as Chelsea beat Manchester United to move clear at the top of the Premier League.
Hull came from behind to beat Stoke 2-1 at the KC Stadium to ease the pressure on Phil Brown.
Wes Brown feels Chelsea's winning goal should not have stood as he insists he was fouled by Didier Drogba.
Sir Alex Ferguson insisted John Terry's winner should not have been allowed to stand after Man United's defeat at Chelsea.
Carlo Ancelotti admitted his delight in beating Chelsea's "best opponent" at Stamford Bridge.
Comments (2)
Emma Carway (Arsenal fan) says...
so glad he's nearly back. he never deserved what happened to him but that is football. the reception he will recieve when he plays again at emirates will be immense and i just hope he gets back to his best and shoots arsenal to the top of the league :D a girl can dream cant she :D
Posted 12:18 21st November 2008
Jonathan Casbon (Arsenal fan) says...
Its great news that Eduardo will be back in training from next week but I think, given the seriousness of his injury, it will be a few months before we see him on the Emirates pitch again. I hope, for the team's sake, that he does play sooner rather than later as he is a natural finisher which we need desperately now.
Posted 11:15 21st November 2008