Eduardo's injury was lucky for Wenger

Arsene Wenger’s success at Arsenal has been caused by his inspired, and inspiring, decisions. But occasionally – just occasionally – he gets lucky.

Resorting to Jens Lehmann, after trying to sign other keepers in 2003, was lucky. For two years, Lehmann was Arsenal’s best defender.

Still having Ashley Cole, after planning on selling him to Crystal Palace for £200,000, was lucky. He became a better left-back, in defence and attack, than Silvinho. Cole, Robert Pires, and Thierry Henry were the Premiership’s best partnership from 2002 to 2004.

Now, Wenger’s got lucky again. Why? Because another of his players got injured.

Eduardo – apparently - strained a muscle on Friday. If he hadn’t, Arsenal wouldn’t have beaten Stoke 2-0.

Wenger would have played Eduardo, because the Croatian deserves loyalty, and he needs games. But, though that’s true, he’s been – comfortably – Arsenal’s worst player this season.

In 15 appearances this season, he’s scored three goals: from one yard against Everton, two yards against Standard Liege, and 12 yards – that penalty – against Celtic. He looks slower than last season. His touch is wooden, and his finishing is weak.

Arsenal’s attacks, which race down the pitch like a speedboat boat down the Thames, have ran aground when they’ve reached Eduardo. He’s the dancer one step behind the boyband.

Andrei Arshavin won’t have helped Eduardo’s confidence. Last week, the Russian told anyone who’d listen that, since Robin van Persie was injured, Arsenal had no striker. We can’t hold it up, he said. We’re too small.

So Wenger gave Arshavin the shirt. If you think you’re special, sonny, you do better.

And guess what? He did. Arshavin’s performance was Technicolor to Eduardo’s monochrome; sound to Eduardo’s silence.

He made runs, worried defenders, and offered midfielders space to find. His first goal – the run, the touch, the finish – was a van Persie impersonation, but right-footed.

And, for the difference between Arshavin and Average Arsenal, watch the penalty. Arshavin demanded the ball from Emmaneul Eboue. Then demanded it, then demanded it.

He’d seen enough mis-hit crosses, enough third-gear runs, enough weak-kneed dives, to know the outcome if Eboue kept it. Eventually Arshavin got the ball, beat a man, and won the penalty.

Easy, he thought. Just don’t take so long next time.

Playing Arshavin up front won’t win Arsenal the league. The keeper’s not good enough, the midfielders are one-paced, and no-one can goes a month without being injured.

But, with the Russian up front, Arsenal won’t go three games without a goal. And they should – should – beat Liverpool.