Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has still not forgiven Martin Taylor for his challenge which left Eduardo with a sickening leg injury.
Taylor challenge on Eduardo still angers Arsenal boss
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger has still not forgiven Martin Taylor for his challenge which left Eduardo with a sickening leg injury.
Taylor's tackle on the Croatia international just over two years ago saw the striker suffer a broken leg and dislocated ankle, which kept him on the sidelines for a significant spell and threatened his career.
The Gunners return to St Andrews for the first time since that incident in February 2008 hoping that their Premier League title hopes do not suffer as they did on that occasion.
On top of losing Eduardo, Arsenal were held to a 2-2 draw and slipped off the pace in the final weeks of the season. This term, they arrive in the Midlands two points behind leaders Manchester United and one adrift of Chelsea.
Taylor has since left St Andrews to join Watford in the Championship, while Eduardo is expected to be part of the Gunners' matchday squad.
Opportunity
"Have I bumped into him? No. Have my feelings changed towards him? No. Have they mellowed with time? No," Wenger said when asked about Taylor.
"It is best not to speak about that any more. The best way to help Eduardo is not to speak about what happened there.
"For him, he has a good opportunity to show that he has got over that."
While Wenger is still clearly holding a grudge over the incident, Gunners captain Fabregas claims maintaining their title challenge is far more important than gaining revenge.
"This is a big day for all of us but it has nothing to do with what happened two years ago - that is all finished now," he told
The Sun.
Everything changed
"Yes it was a very, very bad injury for Eduardo and a very difficult moment for Arsenal Football Club.
"And from that day everything changed for us - that's true.
"We were top of the league and everything was going so well. But then...
"But we are not the kind of people who dwell on two years ago and all that happened there.
"Eduardo is well again, he's back playing again.
"So for us it's all about right now and the future - not going back into the past. It is a big game for other reasons now - not for revenge but for something more important than that. It's because we want to win the league, not settle old scores."
