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Eduardo sends Arsenal into FA Cup 5th round

Eduardo da Silva scored twice in his return to Arsenal after a nearly one-year layoff caused by a broken leg, leading the Gunners over Cardiff 4-0 Monday night and into the fifth round of the FA Cup.

Eduardo scored in the 20th minute with a header off a cross from Carlos Vela, then beat goalkeeper Tom Heaton with a penalty kick in the 60th after he was brought down by Gavin Rae.

After the first goal, Eduardo ran toward a corner, fell to his knees and smiled before being teammates enveloped him. Arsenal fans erupted into celebrations and sang Eduardo's name.

"Of course everybody is happy for him but I believe it was a good team performance, dynamic, convincing, mobile, with the kind of game we love to play," Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger said. "Eduardo played a big part in that and everybody is, of course, pleased for him tonight."

The 25-year-old forward's left fibula was broken and ankle dislocated during a tackle by Birmingham's Martin Taylor last Feb. 23. Eduardo played his first official game after that last Wednesday, setting up the go-ahead goal for Croatia in a 2-1 exhibition win over Romania.

In the fourth-round replay, Arsenal also got goals from Nicklas Bendtner in the 33rd minute and Robin van Persie in the 88th. Van Persie entered in the 67th for Eduardo, who left with a slightly strained hamstring.

The Gunners host Burnley in the fifth round on March 7 or 8, with the winner meeting Sheffield United or Hull in the sixth round. International Herald Tribune