Eduardo's confident he can fill the gap left by Robin van Persie

James Olley
17 Nov 2009

Arsene Wenger is about to take a significant step towards learning if his unswerving faith in the controversial Eduardo is justified or misplaced.

It seems faintly ridiculous to claim a side that boast 17 different goalscorers in all competitions by mid-November can be so disarmed by the loss of one player, but Robin van Persie's six-week absence with ankle ligament damage represents a significant setback.

Van Persie had adapted superbly to his role at the apex of a 4-3-3 formation and his understanding with Cesc Fabregas has been at the heart of the Gunners' superb start to the season.

Eduardo must now put a tumultuous start to life in north London behind him and make the same modifications if Arsenal are to continue unabated.

Since arriving for £7.5million in July 2007, the 26-year-old has started just 30 games due chiefly to a horrific leg break suffered against Birmingham 21 months ago.

Although the Croatian returned to action in February, he has suffered a series of minor injuries as his body readjusts to the rigours of regular top-level football and also became the victim of a calamitous attempt by UEFA to stamp out diving in the game.

Wenger never felt compelled to pay Bordeaux an inflated asking price for Marouane Chamakh based on the belief Eduardo can deliver on his potential.

Eduardo has 18 goals to his name - an impressive haul given his intermittent appearances - and although he has operated largely on the left of Wenger's three-pronged attack, Arsenal's No9 believes he is ready to play the role conventionally associated with his shirt number and lead the line.

"I'm feeling good. At the beginning of the season I had a few injury niggles but I am OK now and ready to help the team rise to the top of the table, as well as progress in the Champions League," said Eduardo. "We are doing very well at the moment and I hope we can produce a big surprise this year.

"The boss knows our qualities and how they can fit into a formation. For me it is fine to play on the left or the right, no problem, the most important thing is to help the team and I feel good in those positions.

"It is a formation that gives us more movement and more creativity through the middle, although it is not easy because we have to balance defence and attack and that can be difficult."

Free of that responsibility in a central attacking role, the question is whether Eduardo can help link the play as effectively as Van Persie.

The Dutchman is an unconventional frontline striker in respect that it is his guile and craft rather than a bullish physical presence that gives his midfield time to support the attack. Eduardo is perhaps a more natural finisher and his game is characterised by intelligent movement but the doubt is whether he will be shrugged off the ball too easily.

In one sense, Van Persie's absence eases a selection dilemma for Wenger as Theo Walcott is expected to return to full training this week and add to a plethora of options in wide areas.

Andrey Arshavin has shown flashes of brilliance but has not consistently influenced matches to the extent it had been hoped since his promising introduction last season.

Arsenal have better cover in attack rather than defence so while Van Persie will be missed, Wenger will be confident he has enough at his disposal to maintain the present momentum.

Now we will learn if Arsenal's often seamless interchange in possession can extend to personnel.