Eduardo relishing Gunners reunion

18 October 2010 19:55
Eduardo will make an emotional return to Arsenal with Shakhtar Donetsk tomorrow - and is unlikely to celebrate should he score at The Emirates.[LNB] The 27-year-old Croatian forward headed to Ukraine in a £6million deal during the summer after finding himself down the Arsenal order following the free transfer signing of Marouane Chamakh.[LNB]Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger found it emotional to see the Brazil-born striker leave, after he fought back to full fitness following an horrific broken leg and dislocated ankle at Birmingham in February 2008.[LNB]Eduardo maintains the time was right for him to move on, but still holds a special affection for the Gunners.[LNB]"It was great times here with Arsenal, but now I am on the other side and play for Shakhtar," said Eduardo, signed by Wenger from Dinamo Zagreb in July 2007 for a reported £7.5million.[LNB]"I will give them 100%, am ready to play and will give my all best tomorrow."[LNB]However, Eduardo added: "I don't think I will celebrate.[LNB]"I respect the club.[LNB]"I had some great moments here and have respect for the supporters and Mr Wenger, for the club.[LNB]"I came from Croatia and learned a lot at Arsenal. Now I have more experience than before.[LNB]"When you play for Dinamo Zagreb and someone like Mr Wenger finds you, takes you to play in the Premier League, that is big respect. He believed in me.[LNB]"But now the most important thing is that now I am on the other side I will give all my best tomorrow.[LNB]"If I score, it will be good for Shakhtar.[LNB]"Hopefully we can finish with a positive result."[LNB]Eduardo believes he made the right decision to seek a fresh start.[LNB]"Of course it was hard to leave. When you spend three years at a club you have great moments, then after that there were some problems with my injury," he said.[LNB]"I am nearly 28 and I made a good decision to play for Shakhtar because they are a big club in Europe. This is life.[LNB]"The injury is passed, I don't like to talk about that.[LNB]"Now I am 100% fit, playing football again and am enjoying it."[LNB]Eduardo added: "Donetsk is a very nice city and the club is very good, the stadium is one of the best in Europe.[LNB]"There are seven or eight Brazilian guys, they help me, the boss also speaks Portuguese and so he can help. I am very happy there."[LNB]Eduardo feels his old club just need a bit of luck to go all the way in Europe.[LNB]"The Champions League is very difficult for every club, for Manchester United, for Barcelona, for Chelsea," he said.[LNB]"Every year Arsenal play the quarter-finals, semi-finals, they just need more luck to play in the final and to win."[LNB]Shakhtar coach Mircea Lucescu refused to confirm whether Eduardo would start tomorrow night.[LNB]However, the Romanian admitted: "It is bound to be emotional.[LNB]"He will be on the field - when, we will see.[LNB]"Eduardo wanted so much to play in Arsenal, he wanted to remain here, but his injury created such problems.[LNB]"Now it is Shakhtar who are helping him to come back to a big, big level.[LNB]"I hope he will return to the level he was before Arsenal.[LNB]"It could be this year, if we continue to have good results in the Champions League."[LNB]Eduardo has been utilised mostly as a substitute for his new club.[LNB]Lucescu said: "He has only played one whole match - he has to recuperate.[LNB]"Eduardo has got potential. He is a very professional player, a very intelligent and skilful player, and I hope that he will forget what happened."[LNB]Like Arsenal, Shakhtar have won both of their games in Group H.[LNB]"We are here to get a result," Lucescu insisted.[LNB]"I know Arsene Wenger very well, from when he was a coach at Nantes in France.[LNB]"We remain in contact, but this is about football and we have the same ideas."[LNB]

Source: Team_Talk