Arsenal's Eduardo was taken to hospital after sustaining a horrific leg injury in the early stages of today's Premier League trip to Birmingham City.

Less than three minutes in the home side found themselves reduced to 10 men when central defender Martin Taylor was given an instant red card for a challenge on the Croatian striker.

Eduardo was clearly in distress and replays of the incident were not being shown on live television because of the apparent seriousness of the injury.

It was six minutes before the Gunners striker was eased onto the stretcher before being taken from the pitch.

Arsene Wenger immediately replaced Eduardo, who will be 25 on Monday, with Nicklas Bendtner who spent all of last season on loan at Birmingham.

A livid Wenger called for Taylor to be banned for life after the horror tackle.

Taylor was said to be "distraught" at the incident, with Blues boss Alex McLeish insisting the defender had no intention of hurting his opponent.

But Wenger was having none of it.

"This guy should never play football again," he fumed. "What is he doing on the football pitch?

"I've gone along with the idea for a long time that to stop Arsenal, you have to kick Arsenal. I knew that was coming for a long time now."

Of Eduardo's injury, Wenger added on Sky Sports News: "His injury is very, very bad. More than the season is over."

Blues boss Alex McLeish said of the challenge: "Martin's distraught about the lad's injury."

"It's certainly not in Martin Taylor's make-up at all to commit a malicious tackle."