Fabregas will not need operation

Arsenal midfielder Cesc Fabregas has confirmed he will not be undergoing an operation on his damaged knee.

Fabregas travelled to Barcelona yesterday to consult specialist doctor Ramon Cugat about the problem he picked up during Sunday's Barclays Premier League draw with Liverpool when he was tackled by Xabi Alonso.

The injury is set to keep the Gunners' captain sidelined for around four months, but it will not require the Spain international to go under the knife.

"After consulting with the best doctor possible, we've decided not to operate. If it would have been necessary it would have been the first thing I would have done, but the doctor recommended to me not to do it because I'm young and the meniscus is not damaged," Fabregas was quoted as saying in Marca.

"Although we cannot be certain because the injury only happened a few days ago, but I will be out for more or less four months. My intention is to return as soon as possible to help my team-mates.

"I will endeavour to return as soon as possible to do what I like most, to play football."

Fabregas did not come out for the second half of Sunday's 1-1 draw against Liverpool at the Emirates Stadium after sustaining the knee problem following a tackle by his Spanish Euro 2008-winning team-mate Alonso.

The 21-year-old Fabregas said of Alonso: "He was very concerned about me. He called me after the game, he has been sending messages and also called me before I saw the doctor. These are things that happen, it's football and Xabi is a great friend of mine.

"It's the first serious injury that I've had in my career. Everybody gets injured and now it's my turn. I will have to wait, undertake my recovery and return as soon as possible."