Eduardo da Silva in Arsenal!

[RoboCop]

Croatia striker Eduardo da Silva set to join Arsenal

Arsenal Football Club can confirm that terms have been agreed with Dinamo Zagreb for the transfer of striker Eduardo Da Silva on a four year contract for an undisclosed fee, subject to a medical.

Da Silva (24), was born in Brazil but moved to Croatia at the age of 15 and took Croatian nationality in 2002. The striker scored the first competitive goal in European football at Emirates Stadium when Arsenal beat Dinamo Zagreb 5-1 on aggregate in last season’s UEFA Champions League Third Qualifying Round.

Eduardo has made 12 appearances for the Croatian national team scoring seven goals, including one of his country’s goals in their 2-0 Euro 2008 Qualifier victory over England in October 2006.

Further details will follow on Arsenal.com.


http://www.arsenal.com/article.asp?thisNav=News&article=474738&lid=NewsHeadline&Title=Croatia+striker+Eduardo+da+Silva+s et+to+join+Arsenal

[RoboCop]

DA SILVA COST GUNNERS Ł16M - DINAMO

Eduardo da Silva's transfer to Arsenal has been thrown into confusion after Dinamo Zagreb claimed they received Ł16.25million for the striker.

The Gunners confirmed the Croatia international had joined the club for an "undisclosed fee" on Monday as they made their first signing since Thierry Henry's Ł16.1million move to Barcelona.

But Dinamo president Mirko Barisic appears to have claimed Arsenal spent all of the Henry transfer money - and more - on the signing of da Silva.

He is quoted on the UEFA website as saying: "I think the transfer is worth 24million euros (Ł16.25million) from the money Arsenal got after selling Henry to Barcelona."

Meanwhile, da Silva has admitted he is thrilled to be signing for such a high-profile club.

He told Uefa.com: "I am excited and happy in the same time, also very proud that I am going to play in such a big club.

"Every football player wants to play for Barcelona, Real (Madrid), Manchester United or Arsenal one day and so do I.

"I want to progress in my career, but it will be hard to leave Dinamo Zagreb after eight years.

"I will miss the club, the guys. I will be back one day, but now I want to accept a new challenge."


Having finished the Croatian season as top scorer with a record 34 goals, just how quickly da Silva settles into the hustle-and-bustle of the Barclays Premier League will be key to Arsenal's chances of mounting a serious title challenge - which had already been written off by Chelsea striker Didier Drogba following Henry's departure.

At 24, his best years are ahead of him and, with Robin van Persie - last season's leading scorer before injury - also looking to get back among the goals, not to mention Togo hitman Emmanuel Adebayor and the return of young Dane Nicolas Bendtner from a loan spell at Birmingham, the future suddenly does not look so gloomy for an attack which had lost its most potent weapon.

The departure of club-record 226-goal striker Henry is, of course, not going to be overcome in one fell swoop.

However, there is now a real chance for Arsenal's emerging talent to take up the mantle.

England's Theo Walcott is hoping to be one player to benefit from the reshuffle, having missed the tail end of the last season and the summer's European Under-21 Championships because of a shoulder operation.

"I want to get 10 goals next season and I would like to make 20 or 25 starts," declared the Ł12million former Southampton trainee.

"Basically, I want to improve every year. I know I'm quite a high-profile player, but I'm just 18, so all I want to do is work hard and try to get more starts for the first team."

Wenger, who has been recharging his batteries at an Italian health resort ahead of the pre-season schedule, is now expected to step up his interest in Auxerre full-back Bakary Sagna as he looks to bolster the Gunners rearguard.

The 24-year-old is likely to cost in the region of Ł6million and is keen on a move to Arsenal.

There has, meanwhile, not yet been any official announcement on the the role of director of football.

It now seems likely former player Gilles Grimandi will be offered the post, which was created following the shock departure of vice-chairman David Dein in April.

http://www.sportinglife.com/football/transfer_centre/

[Balozi]

there's no way on earth arsenal would pay that much money and especially for someone unknown

so according to this report this da silva is more expensive than henry :P give me a break

not to mention that arsenal doesn't have that kind of budget

[RoboCop]

Those are just guessings, they don't say an actual price.

[Balozi]

lol the man who guessed 16 million pounds for a player who played in croatia until now should be fired. also, if he thinks that arsenal can afford 16 millon on one player he should be double fired