Livid Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger called for Birmingham
defender Martin Taylor to be banned for life after his horror
tackle left Eduardo da Silva with a broken leg.
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Eduardo was taken to hospital following the sickening challenge
just three minutes into Saturday afternoon's Premier League game at
St Andrews which finished 2-2. Taylor was said to be 'distraught'
at the incident, with Blues boss Alex McLeish insisting the
defender had no intention of hurting his opponent. But Wenger was
having none of it. 'This guy should never play football again,' he
fumed. 'What is he doing on the football pitch? 'I've gone along
with the idea for a long time that to stop Arsenal, you have to
kick Arsenal. I knew that was coming for a long time now.' Of
Eduardo's injury, Wenger added on Sky Sports: 'His injury
is very, very bad. 'More than the season is over.' Blues boss Alex
McLeish said of the challenge: 'Martin's distraught about the lad's
injury.' 'It's certainly not in Martin Taylor's make-up at all to
commit a malicious tackle.' McLeish applauded his players'
never-say-die attitude after James McFadden's last-gasp penalty
salvaged a point for Birmingham. Despite Taylor's early dismissal,
the 10 men led at half-time thanks to McFadden's free-kick. Arsenal
made the extra man tell after the restart, Theo Walcott scoring his
first Premier League goals with a brace. The leaders looked like
going eight points clear of Manchester United temporarily but Gael
Clichy's rash stoppage-time challenge on Stuart Parnaby - in which
he appeared to get the ball - handed McFadden his second from the
spot. 'The players' commitment was fantastic,' McLeish said.
'Taking the lead was probably unexpected but what a great goal it
was. 'We looked comfortable up to half-time. 'We probably got a wee
bit casual. I thought it's going to be a long second half. 'We were
prepared to lose it by a heavier margin but boldness, I think, got
us a point.' Scotland forward McFadden, who admitted he had been
'nervous' stepping up for the penalty, said: 'When they got the two
goals, it looked as if we were out the game but we fought back and
showed great spirit. 'We need to start winning but a draw like
that's better than a win.' On the injury to Eduardo, McFadden
added: 'I've not seen the tackle but it was a terrible injury. I've
seen his leg and it didn't look too clever. 'You just have to get
on with it at times when things like that happen.'
