Source: Daily_Mail
From Rio to beach - Arsenal's Eduardo erasing memory of THAT tackle
From sleeping in a store room to scoring an FA Cup wonder goal after recovering from a broken leg: it's been some journey for Arsenal[LNB]'s Eduardo da Silva.[LNB]Arsene Wenger made the Croatia striker his captain for the Gunners' 3-0 win over Burnley yesterday and Eduardo justified his manager's sentimentality by scoring one of the 'goals of the season'.[LNB]'It was as if Eduardo was playing football on the beach,' said Wenger after the striker's left-footed slice shot doubled Arsenal's lead against their Championship opponents.[LNB] Beach volley: Eduardo scores his innovative goal against Burnley[LNB]Born in Rio de Janeiro in February 1983, Eduardo played for CBF Nova Kennedy and Bangu Atletico Clube in his native Brazil before moving to Croatia aged 15.[LNB]The striker joined Dinamo Zagreb in September 1999, apparently spending his early days at the club sleeping in a store room at the Maksimir Stadium.[LNB] Arsenal 3 Burnley 0: Eduardo's wonderful goal has fans in awe[LNB]Arsenal boss Wenger raves at returning hero Eduardo's 'goal of season' volley[LNB]'Ridiculous' Eduardo will never lose his touch - we'll be flying when I join him back in Arsenal team, says Walcott[LNB]VIDEO SPECIAL: Finishing school - Sportsmail celebrates 10 super strikes[LNB]ARSENAL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB]He took Croatian nationality in 2002, allowing him to represent the national team, and was named player of the year in the country in May 2004, repeating the feat in 2006.[LNB]Domestic championships followed for Eduardo and Dinamo Zagreb in 2006 and 2007, as the striker finished as the league's top-scorer, and Eduardo-inspired Dinamo also won the Croatian Cup in 2004 and 2007. In 104 appearances for Dinamo, Eduardo scored 73 goals. Wouldn't Arsenal love that sort of firepower now?[LNB] English test: Eduardo takes on John Terry (left) in a Euro 2008 qualifier for Croatia in Zagreb in October 2006[LNB]The striker came to the attention of Arsene Wenger in August 2006, when he scored Dinamo's only goal in a 5-1 loss at the Emirates in the Champions League third qualifying round. It was the first goal scored in European competition at the Emirates and it convinced Wenger that Eduardo was a 'dangerous' player.[LNB]A year later the Frenchman signed him, paying £7.5million to bring the striker to north London on a four-year deal. [LNB] Off the mark: Eduardo scores his first goal for Arsenal, against Sparta Prague in August 2007[LNB]Eduardo's application for a work permit was initially rejected as he did not meet the required criteria of 75 per cent of international appearances since 2005 ( he had only featured in half of Croatia's games, making 12 appearances and scoring seven goals when he became an Arsenal player), but the paperwork was completed after Arsenal appealed.[LNB]Eduardo took time to adapt to the pace of the English game but found his form by Christmas 2007, when he scored six goals in four hames for the Gunners.[LNB] Painful memory: Martin Taylor goes in high on Eduardo in February last year[LNB]But the striker's season ended abruptly in February 2008, when a potentially career-threatening tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor left Eduardo with a broken fibula and a dislocated ankle. He would not play for Arsenal's first team for 51 weeks.[LNB]Sunday's goal signalled Eduardo's return to fitness as he seeks to 'fulfil his potential as (Arsenal's) most clinical finisher since Ian Wright'. [LNB]It's been a bumpy ride so far but, with any luck, the Brazilian-born striker will be remembered for beautiful 'beach' football rather than the recipient of a horror tackle. Arsenal 3 Burnley 0: Eduardo's wonderful goal has fans in awe[LNB]Arsenal boss Wenger raves at returning hero Eduardo's 'goal of season' volley[LNB]'Ridiculous' Eduardo will never lose his touch - we'll be flying when I join him back in Arsenal team, says Walcott[LNB]VIDEO SPECIAL: Finishing school - Sportsmail celebrates 10 super strikes[LNB]ARSENAL FC NEWS FROM ACROSS THE NET[LNB][LNB]
