Arsenal striker Eduardo da Silva suffered one of the most horrific injuries ever seen at a Premier League match, in the clash with Birmingham City.
See also: All the Saturday action in pictures
The Brazil-born Croatia star suffered what appeared to be a compound fracture of his ankle before being carried off on a stretcher following a tackle from Martin Taylor.
The Express & Star photographer from the match captured images of Eduardo’s agony which the editor deemed too strong for publication.
The injury was so horrific that SkySports, showing the game live, did not show any replays of the tackle.
Eduardo, aged 24, was in extreme distress as he was treated.
Paramedics feared the player was losing too much blood and tried to stem the flow before rushing him to hospital.
The game, which was halted for nine minutes in the first half while Eduardo was treated, finished 2-2.
James McFadden gave Blues the lead, before Arsenal’s Theo Walcott grabbed a pair early in the second half.
McFadden then grabbed an injury time penalty to share the points. See also: Blues 2 Arsenal 2
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50 Comments
i wish eduardo a speedy recovery, he did taylor with his pace, it was not a dirty tackle, its just one of those horrible accidents. i know wenger has to defend his players but to say taylor should never play again maybe a little harsh.
Taylor never should be allowed to play again. if one player can do that to another, and he did not look too apologetic at all, then he should be banned for life.
I wish all the best for Eduardo.
I watched him when he played for Croatia and I’m very sorry that this happened to him. I don’t know about this tackle, but shure was a dirty one.
I just hope that Eduardo will recover from his injury and that everything will be just fine.
Best regards to Eduardo and his teammates!
Croatian soccer fan!
taylor should not play until eduardo is fully recovered…
i am a blues season ticket holder and that talk about taylor should never play again is crap. they both went for the ball and unfortunatly it has ended in shock for eduardo. because its arsenal the red card will not be resinded. wenger has no right to sa taylor should never play again and should take back his comments. saying a ban for life is crap, ok he may be a bit clumsy at times, but this time it has ended it disaster.
I think Mr Wenger has double standards. Understandably he is angry and shocked at what is a horrendous injury, but to claim that Taylor should never play again is just rubbish. It was not too long ago that Gallas was kicking lumps out of Nani and a few seasons ago Patrick Viera was kicking anything in sight. Mr Wenger and Mr Gallas should just grow up and act like adults and not petulant children.
When Chelsea appealed against Diaby, the Arsenall player that put Terry unconcious earlier this season, they got fined for this as Diaby was not sent off, It was a fair tackle on Eduardo, should have probably been red as it was late but for Wenger to say Taylor should never play again is ridiculous and him apealing should get Arsenal a fine too!
I’m Croatian and i can’t believe that this happens to Dudu … he’s a great man and whole nation loves him more than their families… Croatia is in shock and thank you, Martin Taylor, for that!!!
all these rough defenders should be punished more often for their tackles…football is about beauty and technique…eduardo should go somewhere else where this is more appreciated…spain for example…
if taylor should not play again because of an accident, then Gallas should never play gain for kicking Nani, yes there was no injury to Nani, but if you can say a player who accidently causes injury shouldn’t be allowed to play again, then any player that deliberatly kicks out at a player should receive the same punishment
I know we should cancel all football until Eduardo plays again. Get a grip it happens. It’s a shame but Wenger should not critise other team’s players. McLeish didn’t have a go at the child Gallas did he!
Eduardo i hope u get better soon like you were just starting to really deliver aswell since it does take time to settle. How can u defend Taylor when you see the images of the tackle, it was disgusting. Folk like that should not play football hes just a monster. Hope Eduardo gets better soon like because he would never deserve a break like that and i hope that he is the same player when he recovers.
I’ve just seen photos of the incident. Pictures don’t give the speed of the incident but it’s a nasty one. Eduardo pushed the ball forward, Taylor’s studs are showing and the sole of his foot hit Edurado’s shin. His foot then shoots down Edurado’s leg to the ankle area. Because Eduardo’s studs are in the ground - the pressure/force then snaps his leg very near the ankle. Red card is definately justified. Eduardo won’t be playing for a long time - September? and Taylor only gets a short ban - that’s all he’ll get won’t it!!! Thanks taylor - mcleish - great tactics! Bet you’ll be gloating to you best mate Ferguson tonight!!
When a car driver causes a car accident with grave casualties his licence is taken away and he goes to prison whether it was accidental or not, so bye bye Hellraiser Taylor
I’m sorry Jonesie but I was at that game too as a neutral and there is no way in hell Arsenal or not that the red card would ever be resinded. The player was reckless, late, studs up and well over the height of the ball. The FA will have to look at it very closely to decide what Taylor’s intent was in that situation. He will be a lucky boy if his ban is not lengthened, tackles like that have no place in the modern game.
Martin Taylor is not in the same mold as Barton, Thatcher or Keane. Saying he shouldn’t play again is just pure anger and no common sense. Calm down about this and then think clearly and this includes Arsene Wenger too. Otherwise, good game today.
Im a reading fan and feel this is no different to the Stephen Hunt and Petr Cech incident. Taylor went for the ball, but went over it; a red card is justified but a career threatening injury is not. My thought go to both Eduardo and Taylor.
The fact is Taylor had no business attempting that kind of tackle. And ‘Eduardo was too fast for him’ doesnt cut it, the tackle was late and amateur at best. Hes either guilty of a malicious foul or a stupid one, either way he should spend a few more than three matches on the bench. Best Wishes Eduardo, terrible shame he’ll miss Euro 08, he earned his spot there.
I watched the game on Sky Sports earlier today and couldn’t tell if the challenge warranted a red card. Just seen the challenge on Eduardo by Taylor on the internet. It seems like a deliberate foul and the injury is sickening. I’ve also heard Arsene Wenger’s comment about Taylor not being allowed to play again on Talk Sport. Maybe he’s right and maybe he’s wrong but Terry Christian should not be allowed to air his vile racist and biased views on Radio. The guy is an A Grade idiot. I can understand where Mr Wenger is coming from. Reckless challenges have no place in football. I wish Eduardo all the best and hope he makes a full recovery and plays again, although I doubt that after seeing the injury.
If you tackle with your studs up its a straight red, why would they resind it?
i just hope the injury dos not end his career, players that commit fouls of this nature need to start taking responsability for there actions, taylor should be suspended until eduardo’s full return to football then be placed on 12 months probation and compensation should be paid by taylor to eduardo during his recovery. good luck eduardo !
his leg was up pretty high… that’s not a clean tackle… if it was up to me he’d never step into a pitch again.
i am a man u suporter but that was one of the most horiffic tackles i have ever seen and i hope honestly eduardo recovers that picture left me scared and i honestly hope taylor never plays again.
Number 5 - if it was a Blues player, you would be jumping up and down screaming for the oppostion player to be banned for life. It was a disgusting tackle and you could see the look of hate on Taylors face. A prison sentence for assault would be more fitting as its obvious it was with pure intent.
Good job Wenger didnt manage in this country in the 70’s otherwise he’d be calling for all players then to be banned
I wish Eduardo a speedy recovery .
iv just seen some replays of this the first 2 shots of it looked like ok he didnt mean it but that 3rd view of it looked like he wasnt going for the ball at all. This needs to be looked into and if it is found he ment the foul then he should be band for life. ok he might not have ment for it to be as bad as it was but there should be no room for dirty players in football..
its on youtube for anyone who is yet to see it. and for that taylor shud be banned. watch his face after he’s done the tackle. the bastard smiles at him!
i think that taylor should never touch some football turf again he should be banned for life
taylor should be banned for 5 matches at least
Can’t believe all of the comments about Martin Taylor, yes it was a bad tackle and yes it was a red card but there is no way on god’s living earth that he intended to do anything like that.
There are worse tackles in every game every weekend up and down the country it is just very unfortunate that the circumstances of this one have lead to such a terrible injury. Taylor looked visibly shocked when I saw him on Match of the Day so i’m not sure where the comments about him not looking bothered have come from.
Good on Arsene Wenger for later withdrawing his comments as well, it is unlike him to do that so clearly he must appreciate Taylor’s position.
All The Best To Eduardo. Hope He Will Be Playing Again Soon.
Forget the rivalry for now. A terrible tackle. His leg is in a bad way from the pictures i have seen and i wish him all the best and hope his fantastic carrer will continue in the near future.
Carling Cup Champs.
If he were a clean player, inmediately he was supposed to give attention to the player as a manifestation of concern probably he was more worried of getting a card than to care about the player that he atrociously hurt. He just smile and with cinic face walked away. That denigrates soccer in England. Soccer is beauty, art and spotsmanship and care about your fellow player.
rob 23 ….. What utter utter rubbish you talk it was a late tackle but no pro footballer would delberatly try to end someone footballing life end of story
Baggie Boy
unlucky edurado what a shame
will teach him not to go around thinking he is the 0ne at football there are alot more players who are far graeter that he is. so get a grip wenger and get someone new
Just seen on Sky that Taylor has played nearly 250 professional games and has only ever been booked 6 times and has recieved only one red card previously. I think these stats go some way to dispelling ideas that he is a dirty player. Eduardo was too fast for him and the tackle was clumsy NOT malicious. While I have every sympathy with Eduardo and wish him a speedy recovery, I think that the over reaction from some quarters is sad to say the least. Unfortunately, these things sometimes happen in football.
I hope Eduardo gets better soon. He is a star and he is so brave. He is a beautiful person and he didn’t deserve it.I wish him all the best for the future.Have a speedy recovery Eduardo x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x x
This injury is horrific every one agrees. I think all you people sitting in judgement of Taylor after watching it on replays should be ashamed and disgusted with yourselves. The guy was obviously in shock. Eduardo has defended Taylor so that should be good enough for everyone. Modern football is seeing more of these injuries, so shouldn’t we look at these new light weight Boots and shin pads ? What is also disgusting is players like Drogba crying wolf by falling like he had been shot when someone like poor Eduardo dosn’t move because his injury is real and horrific. Drogba there is no place for you in the English game. I’m sure Eduardo appreciated your play acting on Sunday when you didn’t get a scratch - grow up.
it is unfortunatr that eduardo suffered that injury. taylor meant nothing malicious and lest you forgethe ha he has only been booked 7times in 250 professional matches. about wenger, it is out of order to think hat Taylor should never, play football again and he should be ashamed of that comment. he too asseeted that rougn play was the only wayu to stop asrenals good play. if that were the case then he should know that football is not only played in England and that if that were the case then many other better players could have had their carees ended in spain france italy germany etc, Arsenal lads are not too gooog to onlty be stopped by harsh tackles.
Taylor should never played again and will give ex= to the rest of the players to know that football it’s only a game and some behavious shouldn’t be allowed- Good luck to you edouardo and get well soon
Arsenal fans
Taylor played the ball. The situation was damage. Watch the video!
tapsa from Finnish:
Taylor played the ball! The hurting was damage!
(look video)
i’m a major watford fan but when i was at home watching match of the day i found it was horrific that wenger said that but on the other hand i saw pictures of the tackle also Taylor at the side smiling and not apolagizing aswell i say 3 month ban plus fine but best of luck to eduardo !!!
all the best eduardo
Just imagine the reaction of people if the guy with the broken leg were English.
Most of the eole doesn’t give a damn!!
Like the poor brazilian that took 7 bullets in his heat in a English subway.
What a shame Engaland!!
Hi its steven i feel for Eduardo from that tackle from taylor people have been teeling me that martin taylor as been in the hospital longer then anyone els he is by Eduardos bed side all the time
hope you get better son Eduardo
looks bad
I agree that Taylor shouldn’t be banned for life… but it’s BS that he only gets a 3 game suspension, I don’t care if it was an accident or not, Taylor can’t go in with his studs that high. I read on ESPN Deportes and saw on Eduardo’s (you tube) interview that Taylor hasn’t apologized in person(I don’t understand Croatian so I can’t confirm that he did or did not)… while other (English) reports say he has apologized. When something like this happens in Mexican soccer the player who breaks the leg doesn’t play until the player with the broken leg recovers… that seems somewhat fair.
BTW I believe Taylor was (clearly) not playing the ball, Taylor tried to hurt Eduardo, not injure him.
i think that the tackle made on Eduardo was a good tackle as Eduardo thinks he is ronaldo