Eduardo Poised for Debut as Arsenal Head to Ewood Park

By Joel Martin

On Sunday, Arsenal head north to Blackburn, still trying to erase the memory of Benny McCarthy’s goal that knocked the Gunners out of the FA Cup last February. McCarthy himself may not be fit for the match after suffering from a concussion last weekend, but Mark Hughes has added talent to his frontline in former Bayern man Roque Santa Cruz. Santa Cruz is a big player who excels in the air but is also a creative passer and dribbler. What he lacks in pace, he makes up for in size and skill. He will be the toughest mark Gallas and Toure have had this season. If McCarthy gets fit in time to partner him, Arsenal could have lots of trouble. If Jason Roberts or Matt Derbyshire plays instead, Gallas and Toure should not have many problems.

David Bentley and the Arsenal-linked Morten Gamst Pedersen are two of the better wingers in the Premier League, but they may not have energy going forward if Clichy and Sagna keep pushing up and adding so much to the Arsenal attack (Both had assists against Sparta Prague). Arsenal will need the two fullbacks can make the Blackburn wingers worry about defense and keep them from firing in crosses to Santa Cruz.

Rosicky and Eboue are both out with minor injuries, and it isn’t known who will play on the wings in their place. They could change formation to a 4-4-2 and move Hleb back out to the wing, adding either Bendtner or Eduardo to partner Van Persie up front. Walcott could step in and play on the wing, but he might get pushed around a bit by Blackburn’s physical game. Clichy could move up to play left wing and Armand Traore could start at left back, but his inexperience might be a gamble against Bentley. Or even Eduardo, who evidently doubles as a winger, could start on the wing with Theo Walcott on the other and Hleb once again in the hole behind Van Persie.

I personally would like to see a bigger, stronger player like Bendtner get a chance at Ewood Park, because made Arsenal look much more dangerous when he came on late in the second half and partnered Van Persie. I think Eduardo is a versatile player and I don’t think he will have any problems playing on the wing (I actually think he’ll end up there a lot with Arsenal’s lack of depth and injury-prone wingers), and as long as he is fit I’d rather see him get the start than Walcott, who was not impressive against Fulham and is too small to play against a bigger, more physical side like Blackburn on the road. Not yet, anyway.

In the end, despite Arsenal’s injury problems, Sagna and Clichy will be looking to build on their great form to start the season, and they will give Bentley and Pedersen problems all game. Without McCarthy, the Rovers will lose by a goal or more. With him, Blackburn could make the game very interesting.