MONTREAL – Davy Arnaud’s nightmarish experience is just about over.
Out of action since he suffered a concussion by heading a ball clear during Montreal’s 6-0 thrashing of Toronto FC on May 1, Arnaud played again this Wednesday. The Montreal skipper played 63 minutes in, ironically, a 5-0 walloping by TFC in MLS Reserve League action at Centre Claude-Robillard.
“I feel good,” Arnaud told reporters after the game. “My head felt good, which was the most important. It’s good to be back in a game after eight weeks, which is a long time. I’ve been back in full training for two days now, and to get on the field in a real game was nice.
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“It’s hard, when you’re not playing, to be on the sidelines watching. It makes you appreciate it, reminds you how much you love playing and being out there. It’s fun, you know? It’s what we all want to do. When you don't get to do it and you first get back into it, you feel excited to be out there.”
Wednesday’s game gave Arnaud, who turned 33 this weekend, a chance to show that even injury can’t weaken his leadership skills. With the young Montreal team going down 1-0 in the third minute, Arnaud clapped them forward and led by example. The veteran looked comfortable on the ball straightaway and was gutsy as ever in one-on-one situations.
“I got through this game fine, and hopefully I’ll be available for Saturday,” Arnaud said with this weekend’s home game against the Colorado Rapids in mind. “I don’t know if it’ll be from the start, obviously. It’s been a while. But I want to be available to come off the bench. If the coach wants me to start, I'm more than willing to do that. Once I’m back fully involved, I’m ready to play whenever he’s ready for me to play.”
