Having received generous applause and the loudest cheer when his name was read out ahead of Arsenal's reserve game last night, Eduardo da Silva could be in little doubt who most of the crowd of 2,285 at Barnet, including Arsène Wenger, Tony Adams and Dennis Bergkamp, had turned up to see.

A goal would have been a great bonus but to end the evening unscathed, as he did, was the main objective for Arsenal's Brazilian-born Croatia striker who was playing for the first time since the tackle from Birmingham City's Martin Taylor that broke his left leg in February.

In the event he played the opening 45 minutes only, had a couple of decent chances including a clear header, was understandably a little clumsy with his touch and then waved to the support when he departed.

"I'm just happy to have this run out. It felt good to get back out there,' said Eduardo, pictured, who confirmed he had been taken off as a precaution over a tightening hamstring. "I want to thank the fans for pushing me along these last 10 months." He hopes to play for the reserves again in their next game after Christmas.