Arsene Wenger’s reputation of getting the best value for money on the transfer market will be put to the test with Eduardo da Silva’s arrival from Dinamo Zagreb for a fee Croatian media have placed at between 11 and 24 million euros.

While Dinamo are understandably delighted with the biggest transfer fee in their history, messageboards suggest many fans are sceptical as to whether Arsenal will get their money’s worth from a 24-year old striker yet to prove himself at top level.

Gunnerblog and Goonerholic reacted positively but many other Arsenal blogs have made no comment.

Da Silva’s reputation rests largely on last season’s record of 34 goals in the Croatian first division but it is unlikely to strike primal fear into the hearts of the tried and tested Premier league defenders.

Perhaps more indicative of his ability is a tally of seven goals in 12 internationals, including a header in Croatia’s 2-0 defeat of England in October and a hat-trick in a 4-3 win over Israel.

Da Silva is quick and nimble, likes to take on defenders and has a great awareness of where the goal is as his lethal finishing for Dinamo and Croatia suggests.

However, he is a far cry from Thierry Henry and not robust enough to play on his own up front. He could form a decent partnership with another striker — if he adapts to the grueling exertions and torrid pace of Premier league football.

Will Da Silva live up to his Croatia-bred billing and turn out to be another fine product of Wenger’s instinct? Or should Arsenal have gone for a proven striker closer to Henry’s stature?

Zoran Milosavljevic, Belgrade