Eduardo insistent over Taylor

Arsenal striker can't forget challenge

Last updated: 18th February 2009   Subscribe to RSS Feed

Eduardo insistent over Taylor

Eduardo: Back from injury

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Arsenal striker Eduardo insists he has still not heard from Martin Taylor.

Eduardo has just returned to action 12 months after he suffered a badly broken leg and ankle following a tackle from Birmingham's Taylor.

The Brazilian marked his return to action with two goals against Cardiff on Monday - but he has revealed he is yet to hear directly from the Blues stopper.

"Some friends told me he was saying he'd spoken to me - but he never did. I've never met him," Eduardo told The Sun.

"And someone at Arsenal received an email from him when I played for the reserves at Barnet a short while back and it said he was pleased I was playing again.

"I have received lots of mail from other people. I've had around 25,000 emails - from Croatia, Brazil and England - wishing me a speedy recovery and I've had letters by the sackful.

"But he's never sent anything directly to me.

"But I don't want to talk about the incident. It's probably best left alone now."

Taylor has also been speaking about the incident and insists he is keeping a close eye on Eduardo's progress.

Accident

"I know in my heart of hearts that it was an accident. A horrible accident. So I wanted to see him playing again. You can never be sure. I was hopeful because of the updates I received from Arsenal. I kept my fingers crossed when he was playing in the reserves," he told the Daily Mail.

"But there is nothing like that first proper game because you are never quite sure whether you have recovered or not. I had a feeling he would be okay because he'd played for Croatia last week. I think it lifted Arsenal on Monday night and I can understand why.

"To recover both mentally and physically - to get through that training and to get back to that standard - he has done really, really well. You have to be exceptional to reach that level in the first place. It is one thing to come back and play at all. It is another to play for Arsenal."

Taylor also confirmed that he made an effort to see Eduardo straight after the incident.

"After it happened, I just sat in the dressing room," he said.

"It was all a blur. So many things are racing through your mind. I tried to see him in the visitors' dressing-room. But they told me he had gone to hospital, so I couldn't do that.

"I went to the hospital on Saturday night. I saw Arsenal's liaison officer there. I'm glad I saw someone from the club but Eduardo was in no fit state to see me then.

"I went back again on Sunday morning when he was recovering from the operation. I saw him face-to-face but he was obviously under the influence of a lot of drugs.

"I don't know whether he was aware I was there or not. But the same

employee from the club was still there. With the language barrier, it was difficult to communicate.

"I've been in touch via Arsenal's representatives. I was able to liaise with him. I had updates. I'd ask what was going on and they'd say things like: 'He's back in Brazil, receiving treatment.'

'It was always positive news, which helped. I tried to put it to the back of my own mind. I couldn't take it out onto the pitch with me. I don't think it can cross your mind when you are a footballer. If it does, then I think it will hold you back."