If ever a statistic summed up a player’s career it is this one: Eduardo converted 23.5% of his shots in the Premier League before his injury v Birmingham City in Febuary 2008, but just 6.3% after.

There were glorious glimpses of a heroic recovery, of course. THAT volley at Burnley where he used the same ankle that was left horrendously dislocated after Martin Taylor’s challenge to shape the ball into the top corner was a spine tingling moment that I, like many, won’t forget in a hurry. But moments like that just helped make it all the more difficult to admit that here was a man who was a shadow of the player he was on his way to becoming in early 2008.

The personal message Eduardo has made to the Arsenal fans following his move was a fantastic gesture which just illustrated the sort of person that he is – classy, thoughtful, intelligent and, above all, hugely respectful.

I just hope that the move to Shakhtar will give him the opportunity he needs to rediscover the confidence he had in himself just a few short years ago. And who knows? Maybe he will find himself back at the top level once again some day soon and I genuinely can’t think of another player who would deserve that second chance more than him.

Goodbye Eduardo, and good luck.

There is little doubt that Eduardo deliberately went to ground to get his side a spot kick against Celtic, even the most ardent Arsenal fan will admit it should never have been given, and even that the Croatian international deserved a yellow card for his troubles. But there is no excuse for the unacceptable way that the media and Europe’s governing body have treated him.

Wenger’s description was of a “witch hunt” and Uefa will be happy to know they have reached the point where the burning can begin in earnest, handing a two match ban out. In doing so, however, they have turned a page in the history of football that they cannot be allowed to return to.

A dive, if spotted by the referee, warrants “only” a yellow card. No suspension, you will notice. Yet if the referee fails to do his job, that same dive can now be accompanied by a retrospective two match ban. The ban is for “decieving the referee”, a simply ridiculous phrase that Uefa should be forced to regret after every single game this season. Hats off to Uefa if they really intend to stick to this new plan to get rid of cheating in the game, but does anyone really believe they are going to implement the same penalty against the likes of £30m+ Ibrahimovic, £80m Cristiano Ronaldo and co when they con the ref in every game they feature in this season. If they did so we would probably never see them get two consecutive appearances this year.

If a player claims the ball did not touch him when the opposition appeal for a corner kick, presumably if the ref believes that player and gives a goal kick after the match that player will then be given a two match ban for “decieving the referee”? Hmmm, I think not. Likewise if in the middle of the pitch someone takes a dive to win a meaningless free kick, the next day when everyone realises he has conned the referee will he miss the next two matches as a result? Once again, I highly doubt it.

The truth is that the media and Uefa have teamed up to make an example of Arsenal Football Club and of Eduardo, creating a show of unity against cheating in a haphazard, nonsensical manner that has been pathetic to see. If Uefa had really wanted to stamp out cheating in football, where is the two match ban for Ashley Young following the wingers tumble to gain a penalty against Rapid Vienna just days after Eduard0-gate? Where is the ban for Lionel Messi following an attempted headbutt that he only recieved a yellow for?

I will leave you with this thought – If Ronaldo had done the same thing as Eduardo, as he has done so many times in his career, would we have the same situation?

I know, the shock hasn’t quite registered with me yet either….

You have to laugh at those Arsenal supporters who are up in arms about this latest piece of news regarding our injury prone Czech international, wanting to get rid of him. Why exactly should we sell him now, just as he is returning from an 18 month injury lay off? It would make little or no sense to do so and this latest injury is simply a reaction to playing football once again after such a long absence.

Eduardo experienced the same thing after a shorter lay off as he tried to return and only now can be said to have fully recovered. It will be the same for Rosicky and the hamstring injury sustained in training this week shouldn’t surprise or upset anyone.  Of course in an ideal world he would have come back, stayed injury free and played 50 games this season while we march towards the title but the reality is very different. If Tomas can manage 20 games this season I will see that as great progress towards regular football – anything more than that  will be a huge bonus for us.

Here’s what Wenger had to say about it:

“It’s worrying because he was so sharp. It’s difficult to accept that suddenly he has a muscle injury. It’s not major problem, but you get these kinds of injuries when you’ve been out for 18 months.”