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.

Hull 3-3 West Ham - Zola
Hull 3-3 West Ham - Brown
Hull 3-3 West Ham - Merson
Sunderland 1-0 Arsenal - Le Tissier
Chelsea 4-0 Wolverhampton - Nicholas
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - Thompson
Burnley 1-1 Aston Villa - O'Neill
Birmingham 1-0 Fulham - McLeish
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| 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 |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Wolverhampton vs Birmingham |
| 13:30 | Everton vs Liverpool |
| 16:00 | Arsenal vs Chelsea |
| Saturday 5th December | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Portsmouth vs Burnley |
| 15:00 | Arsenal vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Aston Villa vs Hull |
| 15:00 | Blackburn vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Man Utd |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 21st November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Man City | |
| Hull 3 - 3 West Ham | |
| Chelsea 4 - 0 Wolverhampton | |
| Sunderland 1 - 0 Arsenal | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Everton | |
| Birmingham 1 - 0 Fulham | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 9th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 2 - 2 Birmingham | |
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Hull 2 - 1 Stoke | |
| Wigan 1 - 1 Fulham | |
| Chelsea 1 - 0 Man Utd | |
| West Ham 1 - 2 Everton | |
| Saturday 7th November | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 5 - 1 Bolton | |
| Blackburn 3 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Tottenham 2 - 0 Sunderland | |
| Wolverhampton 1 - 4 Arsenal | |
| Man City 3 - 3 Burnley | |
| 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 | |
| Arsenal 3 - 0 Tottenham | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Chelsea | 13 | 33 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 13 | 28 |
| 3 | Arsenal | 12 | 25 |
| 4 | Aston Villa | 13 | 22 |
| 5 | Tottenham Hotspur | 12 | 22 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 12 | 21 |
| 7 | Liverpool | 13 | 20 |
| 8 | Sunderland | 13 | 20 |
| 9 | Burnley | 13 | 17 |
| 10 | Stoke City | 12 | 16 |
| 11 | Fulham | 12 | 15 |
| 12 | Birmingham City | 13 | 15 |
| 13 | Everton | 12 | 15 |
| 14 | Wigan Athletic | 12 | 14 |
| 15 | Blackburn Rovers | 11 | 13 |
| 16 | Hull City | 13 | 12 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 13 | 11 |
| 18 | Bolton Wanderers | 11 | 11 |
| 19 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 13 | 10 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 12 | 7 |
Take a look back at what Liverpool and Man City fans had to say following a 2-2 draw at Anfield.
Bristol City fan Hannah Shine was strutting her as the Soccerette in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Paul Merson can't separate Bolton and Blackburn - but thinks Stoke will see off Portsmouth.
Arsene Wenger has declared that contract talks are underway with William Gallas, Tomas Rosicky and Carlos Vela.
Cesc Fabregas has revealed how Arsene Wenger keeps pushing the Arsenal players to fulfil their potential.
Manchester United boss Sir Alex Ferguson admits he is unlikely to make any new signings in January.
Liverpool boss Rafa Benitez is resigned to being without Fernando Torres for next week's Merseyside derby with Everton.
Chelsea continued their relentless march at the top of the table as Arsenal lost to Sunderland and Manchester City held Liverpool.
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