[RobsonLegend]

To be honest, I think 9 months is a very generous prognosis. I seriously doubt that he will be back to anything resembling match fitness within a year. If he's on the pitch starting a Premiership match for Arsenal before February of 2009, I will be very surprised.

I know that sports medicine today is incredible with what it can do to help injured athletes heal, and for sure, Eduardo will have the benefit of the type of care befitting a club of Arsenal's stature (and financial means).

Even then, we're talking about a load-bearing joint and a bone that aids the body in balance and lateral movement. Eduardo's a speedy, skillful young lad, and every bit of his game will suffer for this injury. Whether he will be the dynamic young talent he was pre-injury remains to be seen.