July 2007 and Arsenal were searching to fill the void left by the irreplaceable Thierry Henry. A Brazilian born Croatian by the name of Eduardo Da Silva (more commonly known as Eduardo or Dudu) was chosen by Arsene Wenger. An impressive strike rate of just over one every two games for Dinamo Zagreb (including one against The Gunners!) gave hope Arsenal had found a prolific striker.
Eduardo gradually integrated himself into the team during his first season and by the time he was making the ill-fated trip to St Andrews, he was becoming an integral part of a genuine Arsenal title challenge. However, on 23rd February 2008 after a challenge from Martin Taylor, Eduardo broke his left fibula and suffered an open dislocation of his left ankle. It was a horrifying injury that haunted the remaining months of Arsenals season. The title challenge faded into a third place finish and Eduardo would not be seen again in an Arsenal shirt until a year later. February 2009 and he made a scoring return against Cardiff in the FA Cup, giving hope he could recapture past form. This would prove to be a false dawn and unfortunately he suffered further injury woes, and as a result featured only a few times throughout the 2008/09 season. The 2009/10 season was to be his last for Arsenal as niggling injuries never allowed him to sustain form or match time. A fans favourite, it was a case of ‘What If?’ at Arsenal for Eduardo as he left for Shakhtar Donetsk in July 2010.
During his first season in Ukraine, as he did prior to signing for Arsenal, Eduardo netted against the Gunners, twice in fact. A late consolation in Shakhtars 5-1 Champions League hammering at The Emirates, and the decisive goal in a 2-1 reverse back in Donetsk. He enjoyed a successful first season, winning the Ukrainian League and Cup double and scoring 12 goals in 30 odd appearances. The 2011/12 & 2012/13 seasons once again brought great domestic success for Eduardo with League and Cup double triumphs in both. Throughout these two years though goals and starts began to dwindle and even rumours of a return to the Premier League surfaced. Heading into the 2013/14 season there was a likely possibility that Eduardo’s four year contract may not be extended by the Ukrainian club.
As expected last season was to be Eduardo’s fourth and final year in Ukraine and for the fourth year on the bounce he tasted success as a Ukrainian league champion. Although he was to appear mainly from the bench he amassed 13 goals, his best tally in the Orange and Black of Shakhtar. In the summer he was released on a costless transfer, but once again left with a heavy heart in becoming a popular figure in Donetsk.
In July this year he found himself back in the city and country of his birth by signing with the Rio De Janeiro outfit Flamengo. It has been reported the deal runs until December 2015 with his salary being performance-based due to his previous injury record. If those reports are true then he’s certainly raking in the ‘real brasileiro’ thus far, with 5 goals for his new club! After 15 years away from Brazil , Eduardo has admitted it's taking time to adjust back to the Portuguese language and the Brazilian culture, although he appears to be adjusting to Brazilian club football just fine!
A popular figure at every club he has played for and reliable for goals even through injury troubles, Eduardo’s time at Arsenal will likely, but unfairly, be defined by that horrific day at Birmingham. No doubt the majority of Arsenal fans would have hoped he could establish himself again on his return in 2009. There is also in no doubt that we wish him all the best, and lots of success back in his homeland.