Odds and Sods

Eduardo Da Silva’s football career may be over after a horrific tackle from Martin Taylor less than three minutes into Arsenal’s 2-2 draw with Birmingham.

Too gruesome to be shown on television, Taylor flew studs up into Eduardo’s planted left leg at a right angle, severing both bones.  The Croatian was rushed to Selly Oak where he remains hospitalized - his season over and his career in doubt.

Arsene Wenger was furious after the match.

“This just goes along with the theory that to stop Arsenal, you have to kick them,” he said. “I knew it would happen one day. We’ve escaped one or two horrific tackles this season. I’ve seen some bad ones but they’re not always punished with broken legs. You only need to kill one person one time. You cannot accept that on a football pitch,” Wenger said.

The Arsenal manager called for Taylor to receive a lifetime ban.  “You always get the excuse that the guy is not that type of player,” Wenger said.  “But, if somebody kills once in his life you have a dead person.”

The FA have yet to rule on the incident, although Taylor will undoubtedly receive at least a 3 match ban for violent conduct.

Wenger’s call for a lifetime ban is extreme, but understandable in the heat of the moment.  Taylor did not mean to end Eduardo’s career, but his challenge was both reckless and senseless.  It wasn’t intended to injure, but it had the potential to do so.  If the FA wishes to send a serious message that this type of tackle is in appropriate, then a lengthy ban for Mr. Taylor is in order.

The bigger story, however, should be the loss of a footballing talent.  Eduardo was a gifted goal scorer just coming into his prime, for one of the biggest clubs in the world.  His loss, in such a manner, is simply shocking.  He may yet resurrect his career, but one doubts it will be the same.