Source: Team_Talk
Mixed emotions for Eduardo
Arsenal forward Eduardo accepts things have not gone quite to plan this season.[LNB] The 27-year-old Croatian has battled back from a career-threatening injury after suffering a broken leg and ankle at Birmingham during February 2008.[LNB]However, the former Dinamo Zagreb striker has struggled for consistency and has often been used as a substitute. He has netted six goals from 31 appearances - almost half having come from the bench.[LNB]There has been speculation manager Arsene Wenger may allow the Brazil-born forward to leave in the summer, with the arrival of Marouane Chamakh set to be officially confirmed once the Morocco striker's contract with Bordeaux expires.[LNB]Eduardo has recovered from a broken toe to be in contention for Monday night's trip to Blackburn, as Arsenal look to end the season on a positive note after seeing their title challenge fall away with successive defeats at Tottenham and Wigan.[LNB]While frustrated his goal tally has not been what it could, the Croatian is content to have made a positive contribution.[LNB]"I am happy because I have played in some games, but also disappointed because I missed a lot of opportunities," Eduardo told Arsenal TV Online.[LNB]"But that is normal and I have been doing very well for the team. Maybe I have been playing like that this season - more than a goalscorer."[LNB]Eduardo continued: "I prefer to play on the left or the right than in the centre, but the boss will decide.[LNB]"Usually when we play with two strikers - that is easier.[LNB]"But wherever the boss puts me, I will play, and as a team we can improve for next season."[LNB]After such a long time out of the game, the best part of a year, Eduardo maintains it is understandable his body sometimes needs a bit longer to recover full match sharpness.[LNB]"I have had a couple of muscle injuries this season, and been out for a few weeks," he said. "So maybe my body was not ready because I had been out with a long injury and needed maybe one week more to get 100% fit."[LNB]Wenger has called on his team not to lose focus in their last two matches of a campaign which promised much but has again failed to deliver.[LNB]Eduardo insists the players will not be taking things easy.[LNB]"We are professionals and must be ready for anything in life, so we must continue to play, trying to win the game and be close to the top," he said.[LNB]"Playing against Blackburn is always very hard, but we are focused and want to win."[LNB]Scoring goals has not been Arsenal's problem this season, but letting them in has, with the 39 conceded bettered by five out of the other top seven clubs.[LNB]Wenger accepts his team must improve their collective defensive play if they are to mount a serious challenge again.[LNB]"If you assess our situation, going forwards we have been very, very efficient - our goalscoring rate is very good," he said.[LNB]"Where we want to set ourselves a target next season is we have conceded nearly 40 goals - that is to many to win the championship and is where we want to improve."
