The return of Eduardo- straight into the lineup?

However, there is no doubting that Adebayor’s bargain signing three summers ago has definitely benefited the team, regardless of whether or not Thierry Henry would have remained at the club. I for one could not believe the number of headers Arsenal have managed to score in the Premier League last season. Always roundly criticised by the media, punditry and rival supporters for never attempting to cross the ball during the Henry golden era, I was disappointed and surprised that Wenger and his team did not then get the due credit they have deserved for making use of crossing balls into the box, and scoring the most number of headers amongst the twenty top flight teams in 2007-2008. Adebayor has certainly been the major contributor of such an improvement.

Van Persie has always been known for his technique, flair and ability to create space for teammates and chances for himself from virtually out of nothing, and he has shown glimpses of that this season for both, club and country. Nevertheless, Eduardo is very much a player of similar attributes, where his finishing is arguably seen as more clinical than that of the Dutchman’s. And so in many ways both, Eduardo and van Persie are seen as perfect foils to playing just off Adebayor as a supporting striker, providing the perfect link between the midfield and the Togolese giant, whilst also cashing in on their striker’s finishing instincts.

I guess that from such analysis I am implying the importance of Adebayor in the starting eleven, and indeed I am for many of the physical attributes and heading ability that I have already alluded to, as well as his decent all-round finishing, as his thirty strikes in forty-eight appearances last term testify.

That leaves van Persie and Eduardo to battle it out for the second striker’s spot. With both players similar in their physical make-up, timing of their runs, finishing abilities and versatility in that they can both run at defences from deep, providing useful outlets in a packed midfield during tricky away trips in Europe and the northwest of England, it is difficult to answer that question from an objective viewpoint; not until both are fit and available, which will in itself be a novelty. Only once both players are used in matches in succession and overall team performances and results are assessed will we be able to make a reasoned judgement on who is best suited as a starter for a long domestic and European campaign.

Rest assured that Eduardo will be eased back in slowly but surely, and will probably be used in domestic cup ties and “dead rubbers” in the Champions’ League group stage, as Wenger has always been an advocate of stability and not tinkering with the Premier League lineup when things have gone well, not until he is forced to.

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