McLeish refuses to be drawn

Alex McLeish insists he has “moved on” from Birmingham’s last home meeting with Arsenal when Eduardo suffered a broken leg.

The Gunners will return to St Andrew’s for the first time tomorrow since the Croatia striker sustained the injury setback via a challenge from Blues defender Martin Taylor in February 2008.

Arsene Wenger launched a scathing attack on Taylor after the game and initially claimed he should not be allowed to play football again.

City manager McLeish is glad Eduardo is back playing but is only looking to the future rather than the past

Taylor has left Birmingham and joined Watford while left-back Liam Ridgewell is the only City player in the starting XI that day who is guaranteed to face Arsenal this time.

McLeish said: We have moved on. I don’t want even want to talk about it. Eduardo is back playing which is great.

“But we have moved on and I don’t feel I need to comment on it. It is a couple of years ago.

“It is in the history books. Time moves on and I just brush all that stuff off my shoulder like a bit of dandruff.

“All I am interested in is this coming game with Arsenal.”

McLeish believes Blues are a better side than two years ago and this season they have collected points from the other ’big guns’ in Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool.

He said: “We are a better side than we were two seasons ago but it doesn’t necessarily mean we will beat Arsenal.

“We will try and play our football against Arsenal but we have still got to make tackles – just as the Arsenal team have got to make tackles.

“We can’t stand back and admire them. They are a hell of a good side.”