Arsenal striker Eduardo has been ruled out for a fortnight after he was injured in his comeback game.

The Croat, who was close to tears on Monday night when he scored in his first match for the club since shattering his ankle a year ago, damaged a hamstring just before he was substituted by manager Arsene Wenger.

The club stressed today that the injury was not serious but Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: “He picked up a hamstring injury two minutes before I took him off. What a nightmare.

“Nobody knows how it happened but I knew straight away after the game it would be a
two-week job.

“It is nothing like he had before but I do know that little setbacks like this are part of being nine months out. After that long out, nobody plays six months on the trot. It is impossible.
“But at the same time it is a blow because, of course, he can score goals. He showed that on Monday night.”

Eduardo's first comeback game after breaking and dislocating his ankle against Birmingham in February last year was for his country against Romania in Bucharest last week.

On his return at Emirates Stadium on Monday, heheaded home a 20th-minute cross by Kieran Gibbs and then added his second goal from the penalty spot on the hour as Arsenal beat Cardiff 4-0 in their FA Cup fourth-round replay to set up a clash against Burnley.

Eduardo suffered his horrific leg injury in a dreadful, shin-high challenge by City's Martin Taylor.

The defender revealed this week that he had kept tabs on Eduardo's return via the internet on Monday night. The Gunners star insists, however, that he was never contacted by the player.