By Vasek Kadlec Last updated: 26th June 2008
Rosicky: Returning to London
Arsenal midfielder Tomas Rosicky has stepped up his rehabilitation process as he bids to recover fitness in time for the start of next season.
The Czech Republic international has been out since January with a knee injury and underwent surgery in May, ruling him out of Euro 2008.
It is feared that the 27-year-old, who has been recovering from his operation in Prague, will miss the beginning of Arsenal's 2008/09 campaign.
However Rosicky has now revealed that he took his first steps without crutches on Wednesday and that he is to return to London to increase the speed of his return to fitness.
"To lose the crutches has been a great relief," Rosicky told his official website.
"For six weeks after the surgery I was strictly ordered not to make a single movement without the crutches. Now that is over, but I will not remember it kindly.
"Wednesday was the first time I walked without any support. It is nothing great, but at least I can walk.
"I am stumbling and getting used to it. After a long time without proper movements, my knee is stiff. It just needs time.
"In a few days I am flying to England. In London there is a more sophisticated rehabilitation schedule waiting for me.
"I don't know what it will be like, but at least I will be doing something at last. I am sure the Arsenal specialists have thought it through well."

Stoke 1-2 Tottenham - Pulis
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham - Redknapp
Stoke 1-2 Tottenham - Gudjohnsen
Everton 2-0 Bolton - Coyle
Everton 2-0 Bolton - Moyes
Portsmouth 3-2 Hull - Grant
Portsmouth 3-2 Hull - Dowie
Sunderland 3-1 Birmingham - McLeish
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 21st March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 13:30 | Man Utd vs Liverpool |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Man City |
| 16:00 | Blackburn vs Chelsea |
| Tuesday 23rd March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | West Ham vs Wolverhampton |
| Wednesday 24th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 19:45 | Aston Villa vs Sunderland |
| 19:45 | Man City vs Everton |
| 19:45 | Portsmouth vs Chelsea |
| 20:00 | Blackburn vs Birmingham |
| Saturday 27th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Birmingham vs Arsenal |
| 15:00 | Chelsea vs Aston Villa |
| 15:00 | Hull vs Fulham |
| 15:00 | Tottenham vs Portsmouth |
| 15:00 | West Ham vs Stoke |
| 15:00 | Wolverhampton vs Everton |
| 17:30 | Bolton vs Man Utd |
| Sunday 28th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:00 | Burnley vs Blackburn |
| 16:00 | Liverpool vs Sunderland |
| Monday 29th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 20:00 | Man City vs Wigan |
| Friday 2nd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 15:00 | Fulham vs Wigan |
| Saturday 3rd April | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| 12:45 | Man Utd vs Chelsea |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Saturday 20th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Aston Villa 2 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Stoke 1 - 2 Tottenham | |
| Everton 2 - 0 Bolton | |
| Wigan 1 - 0 Burnley | |
| Arsenal 2 - 0 West Ham | |
| Portsmouth 3 - 2 Hull | |
| Sunderland 3 - 1 Birmingham | |
| Tuesday 16th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Wigan 1 - 2 Aston Villa | |
| Monday 15th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Liverpool 4 - 1 Portsmouth | |
| Sunday 14th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Man Utd 3 - 0 Fulham | |
| Sunderland 1 - 1 Man City | |
| Saturday 13th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Tottenham 3 - 1 Blackburn | |
| Bolton 4 - 0 Wigan | |
| Birmingham 2 - 2 Everton | |
| Stoke 0 - 0 Aston Villa | |
| Chelsea 4 - 1 West Ham | |
| Burnley 1 - 2 Wolverhampton | |
| Hull 1 - 2 Arsenal | |
| Wednesday 10th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Burnley 1 - 1 Stoke | |
| Tuesday 9th March | |
| Barclays Premier League | |
| Sunderland 4 - 0 Bolton | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Arsenal | 31 | 67 |
| 2 | Manchester United | 30 | 66 |
| 3 | Chelsea | 29 | 64 |
| 4 | Tottenham Hotspur | 30 | 55 |
| 5 | Liverpool | 30 | 51 |
| 6 | Manchester City | 28 | 50 |
| 7 | Aston Villa | 29 | 50 |
| 8 | Everton | 30 | 45 |
| 9 | Birmingham City | 30 | 44 |
| 10 | Fulham | 29 | 38 |
| 11 | Stoke City | 30 | 36 |
| 12 | Sunderland | 30 | 34 |
| 13 | Blackburn Rovers | 29 | 34 |
| 14 | Bolton Wanderers | 31 | 32 |
| 15 | Wigan Athletic | 31 | 31 |
| 16 | Wolverhampton Wanderers | 30 | 28 |
| 17 | West Ham United | 30 | 27 |
| 18 | Burnley | 31 | 24 |
| 19 | Hull City | 30 | 24 |
| 20 | Portsmouth | 30 | 13 |
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