Arsenal cult hero comes out of retirement to play alongside son, 13, and tells Arteta who to sign to win the title

EX-ARSENAL star Eduardo da Silva has told boss Mikel Arteta: Sign Dusan Vlahovic this month and you’ll win the title.

Arteta is desperate for a striker in the January transfer window following Gabriel Jesus’ ACL injury and Bukayo Saka’s hamstring op.

The Gunners have been linked with Newcastle hotshot Alexander Isak, RB Leipzig’s Benjamin Sesko, Brentford’s Bryan Mbeumo, Sporting Lisbon’s Viktor Gyokeres, Napoli’s Victor Osimhen and Juventus striker Vlahovic.

Arsenal title winner Paul Merson claims Arteta should break the bank for £150million-rated Isak.

But Eduardo, 41, insists: “I would go for Vlahovic. The fans want a superstar signing and the Serbian is the one who would get Arsenal over the line in the title race.”

Seven years ago, Arsenal splashed out a then club record £60million for Borussia Dortmund’s Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang in the 2018 January window.

The Gabon striker’s double KO’d Chelsea in the 2020 FA Cup final as Arteta won a trophy in his first season in charge.

And Eduardo added: “When the club  signed Aubameyang from  Dortmund he was already an established  star in Germany.

“He scored some important goals for Arsenal and Vlahovic is the same at Juventus.I like him a lot and his style would suit the way Arsenal play.”

Vlahovic, 24, and 6ft 3in, has scored 53 goals and provided 11 assists in his 124 Juve games.

Eduardo said: “Mikel has done a great job at Arsenal. Kai Havertz and Jesus were not superstars at Chelsea and Manchester City. But they have both done well for Arsenal.

“Jesus had been in form and was scoring goals so the injury is such a shame. I wish him a  speedy recovery.”

Croatian Eduardo claims Jesus’ injury could impact the Gunners in a similar way to his horror leg-break in February 2008.

Then, Arsene Wenger’s side were five points clear of Manchester United.

But Eduardo suffered a sickening double leg-break and open dislocation of his left ankle following a “brutal” tackle from Birmingham defender Martin Taylor.

A late penalty gifted the Blues a 2-2 draw that day and Arsenal then won just one of their next seven Prem games to hand United the title.

Eduardo added: “Mine was a terrifying injury on TV, but the recovery time for me and Gabby is about the same – a year.

“I can’t say if my injury cost us the title that year, but many fans I have spoken to believe it did.

Eduardo back from retirement

“Juventus bought Vlahovic for £66m. I don’t know how much he would cost in January, but I would love to see him in an Arsenal shirt. He could make the difference.”

Eduardo will be a VIP guest at the Emirates for Wednesday’s Champions League tie against Dinamo Zagreb – who he also played for.

He said: “Winning the Premier League is more important than the Champions League because it is the toughest league in the world. But I would really love it if Arsenal could land both.”

Before Wednesday, Eduardo will come out of retirement to play for Kent County League Division Two minnows Gillingham Town against the Royal Engineers to commemorate the 150th anniversary of the Engineers’ 1875 FA Cup triumph.

Brazilian-born Eduardo – an ambassador for the Kent club – will play alongside his 13-year-old son Matheus in the game.

Eduardo added: “We are both very excited. My last  game as a professional was in 2018, in Poland for Legia Warsaw.

“I’m getting free boots from my son for the game because he now wears the same size as me and is sponsored by Nike.

“Obviously, my fitness is not the same as  when I played professionally.

“But I am very competitive, regardless of the standard of game and every one I’ve played I have always been focused. So it will have a similar feeling to when I played at the top.”