Van Bronckhorst's on road back to recovery

Giovanni Van Bronckhorst, who was today recovering from an operation on his cruciate ligament, said he will spend only a day in hospital in America before flying back to Holland to recuperate.

Writing on his icons website before the operation, the Arsenal utility player, who was injured in the game against Fulham on 23 February, said: "I'm not worried about the op, as the doctor who is doing it is one of the top men in the field.

"I just want to start playing for Arsenal again. I flew out to Denver on Monday and the doctor doing the op, Richard Steadman, is the same guy who has worked on a lot of other players with similar injuries, including Ruud van Nistelrooy, Alessandro Del Piero and Jamie Redknapp.

"I'm in constant touch with Arsenal's physio on the phone, and I'm looking forward to working back to fitness.

"I watched the game against Newcastle, and thought the lads deserved a draw for the tough fight they put up. We showed how determined in defence we can be.

"I will go back to Holland to start the fight back to fitness because if I was in London I would be around the club, mixing with the players, and that could be a distraction.

"It's tough when you can't take an active part on the pitch and you're watching the other guys."