Eduardo rescues lax Arsenal
STANDARD LIEGE (2) vs ARSENAL (3)
ARSENAL boss Arsene Wenger hailed Eduardo after the striker celebrated the scrapping of his European ban by sealing a sensational comeback victory in Belgium.
Wenger’s sloppy Gunners suffered a cataclysmic start to their opening Champions League group game, falling two goals behind inside the first five minutes. Forward Nicklas Bendtner reduced the deficit just before half time and defender Thomas Vermaelen controversially equalised with 12 minutes remaining. Then moments later Eduardo, who was due to miss the game until a suspension for diving was overturned just 48 hours earlier, snatched all three points with a trademark poacher’s finish.
“It is always inevitable with Eduardo. He is a great player and you know he can always turn up with something,” said Wenger. “We were caught cold by a team who were really ready and started out of the blocks at full power. Standard played like it was a cup final with full commitment. When you go 2-0 down after five minutes, you know you have a big task in front of you.”
Eduardo ended up a hero but started a villain, his ill-advised and poorly executed flick on the edge of the Arsenal box allowing Standard defender Eliaquim Mangala to advance and lash low past rookie goalkeeper Vito Mannone in the second minute.
Italian youngster Mannone, making only his second Gunners start, was soon picking the ball out of the net again. William Gallas was judged to have fouled Milan Jovanovic, who dusted himself off to convert the penalty. Arsenal suddenly had a mountain to climb and looked in disarray. But a slither of hope was restored seconds before the interval when Abou Diaby’s swashbuckling run teed up Bendtner to slot home from a tight angle.
The visitors struggled to pierce Standard’s vigilant defence until the disputed leveller came 12 minutes from time, when Alex Song appeared to handle before squaring for Vermaelen to tap home. The protests had barely died down when Eduardo turned home a corner from inside the six-yard box to complete a remarkable turnaround.