Eduardo

Arsenal striker Eduardo believes the biggest challenge to him making a full recovery from his broken leg is mental rather than physical.

The Croatia international could be out for as long as a year as he recovers from the horrific injury he suffered in a tackle from Birmingham's Martin Taylor last month.

The 25-year-old Brazilian-born striker is expected to make a full recovery and he may continue his rehabilitation in his adopted homeland.

And although Eduardo admits he is getting "impatient", he knows he must not rush his recovery if he is to regain full fitness.

"I don't think my injury was as bad as it looked on TV and it is now really up to me, in my head, how the recovery will go," Eduardo told Arsenal TV.

"I feel excellent at the moment. I am a lot better, but it is not easy being at home all the time and being impatient through the way of my recovery.

"I will get the plaster removed and then I would like to go back to Croatia to continue my rehabilitation.

"The most important thing for me is to recover and to feel better, but I will not rush with that.

"I will wait for a professional to give me the okay because I want to make sure I am 100% fit."

Eduardo was rushed to hospital for an emergency operation after being treated on the pitch by Arsenal physio Gary Lewin and the forward revealed he can recall little about the incident.

"I looked at my foot and it was not straight. It was on the right. After that I couldn't look at it anymore," he said.

"I don't remember if there was any pain or maybe it was panic or fear. But I knew in my mind everything would be okay and I will recover definitely.

"I can only thank Gary for the reassurance, care and knowledge he gave to me at that moment," Eduardo added.

"He offered me everything emotionally that I needed at that time."