IG has a point in that Eduardo only just started to show what he could do. I think he'd have gone on to be a very good signing but he struggled to make an impact for most of the season, especially as Wenger shifted him out wide.

Yes I remember people wanting him to start, and he was playing very well. The guy was an excellent finisher who had excellent movement but that was about it, he had no other outstanding attributes. As soon as we moved to a 1 striker system (which was inevitable) he would have been on the fringes or stuck out on the wing (where he would have been ineffective). Regardless of injuries I don't think that he would have made it here.

To me he's an intelligent Podolski, an effective but limited player who isn't good enough to be a star in a top side. But maybe I'm just remembering poorly, it was 7 years ago.

I think that's a fair assessment, IG. I was still very fond of the dude though, ice cool in front of goal.

I remember all the players always saying that Diaby was the best player in training. If only he'd stayed free of injuries, we could have had a great in our side.

otf, not talking about his first few months where he'd play wherever he could to get gametime but when he had a few games up front. At that point he was in good form and was scoring some really good goals.

IG, I pretty much agree with your first paragraph. I was disagreeing with you when you said that there's been revisionism about his abilities, which I'm sure there isn't. Pretty much all everyone said was he had quality movement and his finishing was quality. You seem to agree with that so not sure which abilities of his there are that were being remembered wrong.

I'm not, however, sure that he wouldn't have worked out at point in a one man striker system. Granted we wouldn't be able to play the target man style we currently do but our whole style of play could have been different with a different style of forward.

Plus the only thing that Podolski and Eduardo have is that they're both good finishers. And even then not even the same type of finishing. One is more finesse whilst the other puts his foot through the ball. Podolski never had the movement that a forward should have. One likes ball to feet whilst the other likes to get on the end of things.

But yeah like I said, we never had a pre injury Eduardo to try out in a one striker system so I guess neither of will ever know.

otfgoon wrote:

IG has a point in that Eduardo only just started to show what he could do. I think he'd have gone on to be a very good signing but he struggled to make an impact for most of the season, especially as Wenger shifted him out wide.

He only shifted him out wide when he came back from his horrific injury. Otherwise, his Arsenal story could be very different.

By then, all the focus was on Arshavin/Cesc 4-3-3 and there was no space for someone like him who thrives on a 2 striker partnership, like Podolski. I am also not sure he was as good as before after that injury anyway.

Ivansen wrote:

I remember all the players always saying that Diaby was the best player in training. If only he'd stayed free of injuries, we could have had a great in our side.

Wenger mentioned more than once he was one of the most talented player he ever managed. Too bad he never get to show what he is capable of.

Clrnc wrote:

otfgoon wrote:

IG has a point in that Eduardo only just started to show what he could do. I think he'd have gone on to be a very good signing but he struggled to make an impact for most of the season, especially as Wenger shifted him out wide.

He only shifted him out wide when he came back from his horrific injury. Otherwise, his Arsenal story could be very different

No, he played a lot out wide between Jan/Feb that season. Including the game against Birmingham.

Hleb was the one who played off Adebayor.

Anyway, the point was more along the lines of us being down to the bare bones by that point up front and on the left wing, we'd lost Rosicky, Diaby, van Persie and - on top of that - losing Eduardo in that fashion was the last straw

Eduardo ("Dudu") was easily one of my favorite Arsenal players in that period. Twas him, fabregas and Hleb were our outstanding players in those days.

Excellent finisher. Razor sharp. Very intelligent with his movement. You could always count on him to put the ball in the net when he had a decent opportunity.

Still often wonder what might have been if not for that horrific tackle. I remember when he left and we played against Shakhtar in the CL in 2010. Scored in both legs. He refused to celebrate of course, but I honestly wouldn't have minded if he had! Very Classy player.

Eduardo must be the most overrated Arsenal player ever.

Hmm, why do you say that? You weren't a fan?

Even in his peak-spell of about 8 games playing up-front, he was far outperformed by Adebayor. Once we changed our formation to 4-3-3 there was no room for him in the side, and even if he hadn't got injured I don't see how he would have made it into the first team here.

Occasionally perfect technique, a good finisher, but very easy to mark out of games and didn't have great pace or movement to help create chances for himself. Seemed like a great guy, but a clear case of injuries helping to create a legend that was never there.

You may be right, but I think he had the potential to be something special.

Eduardo was nothing special as a player. He was a good finisher. I totally agree with the sentiment that he had no place here once we moved away from playing a striker in the hole. Wenger decided he wanted Fabregas there, Eduardo was not at all suited to playing at point, the way Wenger wanted anyway, and he was disappointing out wide. Yes, he never looked the same after his injury, but I don't think he would have had much impact for regardless with the players we had.

However, with the players we have NOW, I think he would have been much better suited to us than Giroud is at point.

Rex wrote:

However, with the players we have NOW, I think he would have been much better suited to us than Giroud is at point.

Not really, he suffered from the same limitations as Podolski.

Nah. Eduardo had really good movement as a striker, and even after his injury he was quite a bit faster than Giroud is. That is, fast enough to be a genuine threat in behind.

Podolski's movement was great and he was quick enough to get in behind himself. Still couldn't get into the game enough when he played at point. And Podolski is comfortably a better player than Eduardo ever was.

Eduardo used to be invisible for 90 minutes as well bar the odd moment when he scored. He wasn't a constant threat in behind for defenders like you make him out to be. It was great when we had Adebayor doing the donkey work up front - but no way would he be able to do it in the system we played. With players that expect all attackers to get on the ball and make chances.

There was a chance that Eduardo could have gone on to great but one month of good form doesn't make him better than Giroud. Just like how six months of good form from Giroud don't excuse his other limitations. This is just your usual anti-Giroud bias colouring your opinion.

Nah, not really. Same as with Walcott up front, we will have to change our approach on how to advance the ball and get it to stick. Don't see a problem with that. Also, there is no need, really, for a number 9 who constantly gets on the ball. Not when we have players like Ramsey, Özil, Alexis, Wilshere and Cazorla.

Rex wrote:

Nah, not really. Same as with Walcott up front, we will have to change our approach on how to advance the ball and get it to stick. Don't see a problem with that. Also, there is no need, really, for a number 9 who constantly gets on the ball. Not when we have players like Ramsey, Özil, Alexis, Wilshere and Cazorla.

Which top club that plays a single striker system plays with a forward who doesn't have to regularly link play? Genuine question. Off the top of my head it's none.

Rex wrote:

Nah, not really. Same as with Walcott up front, we will have to change our approach on how to advance the ball and get it to stick. Don't see a problem with that. Also, there is no need, really, for a number 9 who constantly gets on the ball. Not when we have players like Ramsey, Özil, Alexis, Wilshere and Cazorla.

No one's suggesting that the striker always has to get on the ball but they have to always show for the ball. Eduardo wasn't that player at all - he's closer to someone like Hernandez - great finisher but very little else. Or even Vela when he was at Arsenal, he's much better now though.

And Walcott's always running off the ball, trying to give the passer an option. Not even close to being an appropriate comparision.