Eduardo da Silva has all the ingredients to be a big hit in the
Premier League, according to Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.
The Brazil-born Croatia international is likely to make his debut
for the Gunners against Fulham tomorrow, should he shake off a
minor ankle problem.
The 24-year-old got his first goal for Arsenal during the
pre-season Amsterdam Tournament and comes into the English game as
the record scorer in the Croatian league.
Wenger has stressed the £7million signing from Dinamo Zagreb is not
designed to be a direct replacement for Thierry Henry.
However, the Arsenal boss is more than happy with the attributes
Eduardo adds to his squad.
'I would not be scared to throw Eduardo in from the start,' Wenger
said.
'He has settled in very well.
'Eduardo is a fighter, he can score goals, he is quick, he is a
team player so you are never scared to put these players in.'
Wenger added: 'You know how big the pressure is on a striker - when
he does not score for a while, they say 'What is he doing?' or 'Has
he the level to be in there?'
'I remember answering the question for Thierry Henry. `Okay, he
created chances but do you think he can score goals?' - and he
scored a few.
'So it is very important to score, but not for me, it is more to
have a certain peace from outside.'
Wenger is confident his squad can emerge from the shadow of record
goalscorer Henry.
With Robin van Persie fit again and Togo striker Emmanuel Adebayor
- currently out with a groin problem - the Gunners certainly have
plenty of attacking options.
Wenger said: 'You have to accept that the team will be different,
you cannot compare any individual.
'We have had a few good strikers at Arsenal and no-one scored as
many goals as Thierry Henry so you cannot put that kind of pressure
on anybody.
'The only thing I can say is that we have a strong belief, a great
desire for success.
'We have a great togetherness and we are very hungry - and the fact
that everyone doubts about us reinforces that.'
Wenger insists Arsenal can silence the critics and have a major
impact on the Premier League title race this season following
successive fourth-place finishes.
'If you come within our squad, you will see that there is a big
contrast between how we see the situation and how our environment
(outside) sees the situation,' said the Arsenal manager.
'Because we know we have quality, we know we have a style of play,
we know we have a hunger, we know how we have prepared.
'We have created a strong belief, we have a great solidarity in the
squad and we know that what matters is now.
'That is why we are so keen to show it. That is the pride of the
champions to come and show how good you are, and I believe this
team wants to show that.'
Yeah,cant put too much pressure
on da silva here. But i believe he'll rise to the top and for
tommorow's match,if he plays,i'll hope he prove sanchez wrong by
scoring 2 goals at least? lol.
