I have to admit this is one return I am glad to see.

After getting match fit in the reserves, and helping Croatia to a friendly victory, Eduardo Da Silva returned to the Arsenal starting eleven in glorious fashion Monday night as his two goals blasted Arsenal into the fifth round of the FA Cup in a 4-0 defeat of Cardiff City.

Last year when we saw Eduardo’s horrific injury, I seriously doubted Eduardo would be back in eighteen months, much less 24. To be back in less than twelve is a credit to modern medicine.

For Eduardo every game now has to be a dream. The roar from the Emirates crowd when he headed on Vela’s ball spine tingling. While granted this was Cardiff City, Eduardo looked like he hadn’t missed a beat.

His return to the first team should be a much needed boost for Arsenal’s chances of finishing inside the top four. The only hope for me is that Eduardo bounces back from that first hard tackle that will probably be intentionally coming once he starts again in the Premier League.

It was indeed the perfect dream return for Eduardo. Here’s to many more happy returns.

There was other big Arsenal news tonight. Red and White Holdings Limited, the Alisher Usmanov group, has announced they have increased their stake in Arsenal. Now at 25 percent, they are inching their way closer to the magical thirty percent number. That is the percentage that would require formal takeover talks to begin.

Furthermore, at twenty-five percent, Usmanov can now block attempts by the Arsenal board at changing the financial structure of the club or the transfer of equity to other board members.

While it doesn’t look likely a formal takeover bid could happen in the short term, one does have to wonder what Usmanov’s intentions are with the club? Having twenty-five percent of the club, he’s been an awfully silent partner with the club. Though with share prices about twenty-five percent lower since Usmanov’s initial purchase, could we see a takeover bid? All it would take is a percentage of Lady Nina Bracewell-Smith’s shares.

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Everton have shone up the services of Jack Rodwell for the next five years. With his performances of late, he deserves it. I know it’s early, and he’s no Wayne Rooney, but will Rodwell be one of these people who will want to move on in a few years time?

Guus Hiddink is worried about his players fitness. I guess age and not being at AC Milan will do that.

Rafa Benitez is claiming that he wants his Liverpool future sorted soon…and denying he wants total control of transfers. Usually when the quote reads ‘I would like to clear one thing up – I have never asked for complete control’, that usually means you have.

Robinho is doubtful for Manchester City as FC Copenhagen approaches midweek in the UEFA Cup.

Here’s the latest player to complain about English food. That person, Roman Pavlyuchenko.

Roman Abramovich has seen his wealth drop to 13.9 billion dollars. At the rate he fires managers, it won’t take long for that wealth to be zero.

And Newcastle United could be getting Mark Viduka, Obafemi Martins and Alan Smith back for their clash against Everton. However for Mark Viduka, he won’t be back next season.

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ESPNsoccernet is reporting that Red and White Holdings Ltd. has increased it’s share of Arsenal F.C. to 24%, making the group the second largest shareholder behind Daniel Fiszman who has 24.11%.  The lock-down agreement preventing a takeover bid expires in April.

Cue the Darth Vadar Theme (David Dein enters)

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