Roma captain Francesco Totti is confident he'll be fit for their Champions League date with Arsenal in February.

Writing in the Corriere dello Sport newspaper, the 32-year-old hit back at the pessimists who have predicted an even longer lay-off for the injury-prone striker and promised to prove them wrong by returning to action sooner than expected.

"I had another test yesterday which confirmed the muscular tear," he explained.

"I will have to miss the first few games of 2009, but I have already studied a programme of work with my physiotherapist to get back as soon as possible.

"I am confident and the doctors have explained to me that it is not a serious tear.

"I don't think I will miss many games. It hurts to be out, particularly when I was rediscovering my best form."