Eduardo confident Arsenal will deliver

Arsenal FC striker Eduardo da Silva believes his side's group ethic could "give them the edge" as they attempt to overturn a 1-0 first-leg deficit against Manchester United FC in their UEFA Champions League semi-final. In this Q&A with uefa.com readers, he looks to the future with Arsenal, discusses his road to recovery from the awful injury he sustained last year, and talks up Croatia's FIFA World Cup qualifying chances.

Great to see you playing again! I am a massive Arsenal fan but was disappointed about the first-leg result against Man United. If you were in Arsène Wenger's position, what would you tell the team to try and win the second leg?
Jay See, Homebush, Australia

I just think we need to look at the positive side – there's still everything to play for and we will be facing United at home, where we beat them last time. The group needs to forget what happened last week and concentrate on the task ahead. We are a very young team but we also know how to work as a group. That could give us the edge.

Arsenal play very attractive football, and it's usually very effective. But is there anything Arsenal can do better to become the best team in the world?
Selina Thanadabouth, Chicago, USA

I like the spirit at Arsenal and the commitment towards attacking football. At the same time the club is the biggest star, not one or another player. I do believe this strategy will bring trophies.

Hey Eduardo, I'm 16 and a massive fan of Arsenal and Cesc Fàbregas. What is it like playing with a player of that kind of vision and passing?
From Arsenal's No1 fan in Australia, Sam Robinson
 
He's a very gifted player and also serves as an example of my idea of a typical Arsenal player – he doesn't try to be bigger than anybody. He knows nobody can win things alone.

Do you see yourself staying at Arsenal for the rest of your career?
Lucija Hilje

Arsenal are an amazing club and I am keen to repay all the support they have given me since day one when everybody was talking about me as a replacement for Thierry Henry. The club made me feel comfortable settling in and made sure I didn't feel under pressure. I don't need to say how they looked after me after the injury. I feel I owe them a lot. My main goal is to help them win trophies and make the supporters happy.

Why are you not starting in the team? Are you still injured? Please let me know – I am a big fan.
Pattrado Pinto, Kingston, Jamaica

It's the manager's decision and I will stick by it. Also, I had a few muscle problems and maybe that has not helped. Football at the top level requires players to know that they can't get games all the time.

Do you feel you have improved since your days at Dinamo Zagreb, and if so, do you think it is because of your great coaches in Arsène Wenger and Croatia's Slaven Bilić?
Joe Sola

I have improved a lot with the help of Mr Wenger and Mr Bilić, but that's also down to my work rate. You need to be up to the job of moving to a much more competitive league like the Premiership and playing international football.

How is life and football after the injury? I know you have been out for a while so getting back into form is hard, but me and all Croatia would love to see you back on top of your game.
Peter Bandulj

I am doing my best to be ready for club and country. It's a shame my groin injury against United last week will keep me out of action, but I am looking forward to a new start next season. It is my dream to play for Croatia in the World Cup and I feel we can make it.

What was the hardest part of your recovery process, and what is your biggest challenge now as you attempt to return to your old form?
Hrvoje Pavic, 19, Toronto, Ontario, Canada

The hardest part is being away from football. It is tough to watch your team-mates on TV. I never feared the worst when I got injured. The biggest challenge now is to get back to the same physical and technical stage I was at before the injury.

Do you feel as sharp as before your injury?
Dean Coggins

Mentally, yes. Physically, there is still room for improvement, so I will keep working my socks off.

How has your injury made you stronger?
Ante Sucic, 35, New York City

It showed me you have to be resilient and not pay too much attention to what people say. I don't think about what happened and still don't want to watch any videos of the tackle. I want to move forward. Fear or too much thinking won't help.

If there was one thing you would recommend people to do if they were in London for a day what would it be?
Spencer Jones, 22, Portsmouth, England

Watch Arsenal!

Everyone is rooting for you and wants to get past that horrible injury from last year. What would you like to be remembered for at the end of your Arsenal career? What do you hope to accomplish?
Jacob O'Neal, 20, Chicago, USA

I wouldn't mind being remembered as part of a team that won several major trophies, especially the Champions League – a title the club and the supporters crave so much.

What do you think will be the most important thing for Croatia's national team to ensure qualification for the World Cup?
Ivan Grubisic, 23, Tucson, Arizona, USA

The basic thing is to win enough points to be at least among the eight best second-placed teams. But it is quite risky to base our campaign on that. England have started quite well, winning all their matches, so we need to catch up. At the same time we are looking over our shoulders at Ukraine, who are three points behind us. We are playing them in June at home. That's a vital match, especially when you think of the match against England at Wembley in September.

What made you settle into the Croatian culture? Could you describe what made you say: 'I'm going to stay here and get my citizenship?'
Michael Skilj, San Jose, California

It was a combination of things. I went to Croatia as a really young footballer and still feel grateful about how well I was treated by the people there. Also, my now wife and then girlfriend, Andrea, lived in Croatia. At the same time, the club I was playing for [Dinamo Zagreb] had an extra spot for a foreign player. There was also the chance to play for the national team, although it wasn't seriously on my mind when I made my decision.