Arsenal Kiss An Ugly, Ugly Sister

By: chris | February 23rd, 2008

It was anything but honors even at St. Andrews this afternoon, as essentially a 90 minute man advantage for Arsenal went all for naught and Eduardo was sent to the sidelines for the remainder of the season with a broken leg. The game was bookended by drama, as Eduardo’s injury came in the 3rd minute, along with the red card to Martin Taylor, and Birmingham weren’t able to pull even again until a 94th minute penalty sealed it at 2-2. However, talk of the town will be the injury.

Arsene Wenger is understandably furious at having lost Dudu for the season, and the fact that they dropped two points in the dying seconds to a disadvantaged low-table team probably didn’t help matters much. Having not seen the tackle (our trusty just-this-side-of-legal EPL video source only has the actual card, not the foul), it’s impossible to pass judgment, but we can just take Arsene’s word for it:

“The tackle was horrendous and this guy should never play football again,” he told BBC Sport.

“That kind of tackle was waiting to happen to one of our players.

“I’ve seen some bad ones but they’re not always punished with broken legs. You only need to kill one person one time [for these things to be taken seriously]. You cannot accept that on a football pitch.”

Tell us how you really feel, Arsene. If it was that bad then I suspect Martin Taylor will be hearing from the FA mighty soon.

Aside from the obvious injury drama, the goals were also worth discussing. James McFadden banged a splendid free kick into the top right corner allowing Birmingham to take a relatively surprising 1-0 into halftime, before Theo Walcott scored his first Premiership goal in the 49th (finally) and then spent no time in getting back to business with his second just 5 minutes later. Then, of course, the peno in the 94th to seal the sister-kissage. (The goals are here.)

Manchester plays Newcastle, well, now, so it remains to be seen how much the result will impact Arsenal’s lead at the top. But the game will certainly have a lasting negative impact on the Gunners as a team.

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Category: English Premier League

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Erinti

That's...oh, Eduardo. All my healing mojo to him, and you may not be able to see it, but this is me looking at Taylor kind of funny.

(Sheps - Dudu is one of the standard nicknames for a Lusophone man named Eduardo. Much like Kaká, it's accented on the *second* syllable.)
TheGroundsman

I'm fairly certain McLeish didn't tell Taylor to go at Eduardo like that, HOWEVER- those are apparently the kind of tactics footballers are still learning when it comes to ways to neutalize swift technical play.

Just hack 'em down, and that will stop 'em.

I don't think Taylor deserves a life ban, and Wenger was understandably upset. Any other coach would have been just as indignant. I do think Arsene was correct in the literal sense of his first statement "He should never play again." Taylor shouldn't, at least at the top level, because that was just hands down, stupid, unskilled tackling. That may fly on the Sunday League pub team, but when you're in the top flight you need to show a bit of class.

Also, the English commentating and media surrounding the match was pretty apathetic to the fact that a bright young player's future may be RUINED. It was shameful, that.
Yevy

Ian, by no means do I think McLeish ordered a hit on Eduardo. But I think you'd agree that Birmingham's game plan against Arsenal's attacking players was to close down early and aggressively challenge for the ball - a tactic with the side benefit of putting the fear of a hard tackle into the opposition. Perhaps something along the lines of "Let them know you're there from the start" was part of Mcleish's team talk and lead to Taylor's rush of blood to the head, or perhaps he said nothing of the sort. But when the tactics encourage dangerous play, the manager is ultimately responsible.
Sheps

First of all, I really feel for Eduardo (who, by the way, is Dudu?!). He really deserves to be able to play in the Euros, he was the guy who beat England in the first game, and it's tragic he won't be able to play.

But seriously, Martin Taylor never to play football again? It really is not that bad. The injury of course is, but that doesn't mean the tackle was as well - Eduardo held the ball and moved it to one side as the tackle came in. Taylor's intention was undoubtedly to get the ball, but he was too slow. Also, 3rd minute of a game against the top four at home, of course you're going to be a bit fired up, you want to make your first tackle count. This is the Premiership, not some fancy pancy continental fanny-a-thon. People get hurt, it's a contact sport. It's a red card, 3 match ban - that's what you get for going in like that, and it's what hundreds of other players have got for the same thing, except they didn't cause injuries, but that shouldn't have anything to do with it.

You'll notice Wenger has retracted his statement saying he should never play football again. Also, you'll notice that McLeish said Taylor was absolutely distraught at the injury he caused. I really don't think he's the Stephen Hunt kind of character who is just an aggressive little twat, this guy has been over enthusiastic and has made a mistake.

Also, did anyone notice Gallas showing himself up as anything but captain material? It looks like Arsenal are losing it, especially with Adebayor apparently still holding grudges against his one remaining fit strike partner - going for goal instead of squaring it which would have left Bendtner with an open goal.

As a United fan, I wish the home game against Old Trafford was next week, there's no better time to play Arsenal - their season is hanging by a thread. Kind of like Eduardo's foot. Ouch. I really hope he can come back from that.
Ian

Yevy, I have a fair amount of experience watching Alex McLeish, first with Rangers and then with the Scottish NT, and he certainly never told Taylor to go in anything like that hard on Eduardo. A team like Birmingham needs to be defensive yes, but to give away penalties or red cards isn't tactics - it's stupid. Unless I see proof otherwise, I firmly believe that McLeish would not give an order to be dangerously hard-tackling.
Yevy

I'd like to see the FA bring charges against the manager as well as the offending player. The timing of the incident suggests Taylor was delivering an early message, setting the tone for the game. This was not a case of a player losing his head in the heat of battle, but rather coming out of the tunnel looking for blood. Regardless of whether he intended to cause a devastating injury, he clearly knew what he was doing. Intimidation tactics are nothing new in football, but if a manager chooses to go that route he should be held responsible when his players cross the line.
Stan

First incident Wenger has ever seen!!!!
Gabriella

that is very very sad, there was no need for this to happen whatsoever
Weston (@wpazzurri)

thats sucks :(
James

I think Wenger is right, that guy should have no career in football. There's aggressive players and then there's psychotic players.
Michael

Breaks my heart to see a tackle like this on Eduardo. He could have been great. Who knows? He might still be.

Appalling. Absolutely appalling.
Ian

I didn't watch this match, and as a big James McFadden fan, I saw the scoreline first and was thrilled ... but then this. Looks to be an absolutely horrible injury, and a completely inexcusable foul. Throw the book at Taylor. Best wishes to Eduardo, but it's going to be a long road with a break like that.
Hana

How completely depressing, especially having to miss Euro and all. Didn't watch the match, but I have to agree that from the pictures it looked absolutely gruesome. I've always liked him as a player. I wish Eduardo the best of luck recovering in a speedy fashion.
Jess H

we love ya eduardo!
gunner til u die!!

come back stronger and be top striker!
will miss ur deadly finishin!!
chris

Here's the video:

http://www.d1g.com/video/show/...

Hard to tell because of the angle/distance but the pictures are pretty horrible. One in particular where it looks like Taylor isn't even considering the ball and goes straight for Eduardo's leg.
cfc069

I missed the start of the game. I have seen the tackle, challenge whatever from a different angle on Sky Sports at half-time because Sky admitted that they wouldn't show a replay from the real time cameras.

At first I thought it was a nothing tackle. Since, I have seen a close up picture of the point of impact and it is horrific!!

All I can say is lets get Eduardo back on the football pitch as soon as possible and let the authorities deal with Martin Taylor.

KTBBFH
Ryan

Animo da Silva!
Ryan

I broke my ankle like that a few years ago. After 3 years of therapy and surgeries, I just started to get back in the game, but every time I go in for a 50/50 ball I get nervous.

If he comes back, he'll never play the same again.
chris

Ah, thanks. Changed.
Luke

The match was at St. Andrews not the Emirates as you said.

I watched it live on Sky and they wouldn't show pictures or replays of the incident.

I looked on the internet and found a picture of it.

I wouldn't advise anyone to search for the picture, it's not a nice sight. In the picture it clearly shows that Taylor went over the ball.

It makes me sick that Eduardo will be out for about 8 months yet Taylor will probably get banned for 10 games at the absolute maximum, it will probobly be more like 4 or 5 games.

STAY STRONG EDUARDO>>>>> YOU HAVE THE SUPPORT OF ALL GOONERS EVERYWHERE.