Van der Vaart back and firing

By Jonathan Wilson

Ronald Koeman is delighted that Europe has been taken unawares by his young AFC Ajax team. Halfway through the second group stage of the UEFA Champions League, his side remain unbeaten, are joint leaders of Group B - and, crucially, their only remaining away game is against AS Roma, the section's bottom club.

Comeback trail
If Arsenal FC were surprised by the energy and quality of Ajax at Highbury last week, it could get a whole lot worse at the Amsterdam ArenA tonight when Rafael van der Vaart, widely seen as the pick of Koeman's young crop, should return from a knee injury.

'A lot better'
"It's feeling a lot better," Van der Vaart told uefa.com. "It's frustrating to miss this stage of the season when there are so many big games. I missed out on the Feyenoord league game, then the away match against Arsenal, but I hope to be back and firing for the last part of the season, starting on Wednesday."

Knee bother
Injuries - particularly affecting his knee - have blighted Van der Vaart's career so far, and he admits that missing the tail-end of last season, when Ajax completed the double, hurt him badly. "There was a sense I had no part in the championship or the [Dutch] Cup," he explained. "Then this season, having worked very hard to be ready for the Champions League, I got injured again."

Career ambitions
However, adversity has only made 20-year-old more determined to succeed. "For a football player the most important thing you can say to yourself is, 'I have won championships'," he said. "I am ambitious. I want to win the Champions League, the [FIFA] World Cup, everything. I hope I can be successful."

The new Cruyff?
Few in the Netherlands doubt he will be. So talented is he, so sure in his ability, that there have even been comparisons with Johan Cruyff. Van der Vaart laughs off such talk - for now, at least. "It is nice when people say things like that, but Cruyff was really fantastic and I am still young," he said.

Immediate challenge
That, though, is for the future. A more immediate goal is Wednesday night, and building on last week's 1-1 draw at Highbury. Van der Vaart rates Arsenal highly, but believes that Ajax have the nous to overcome their illustrious opponents. "Along with Real Madrid [CF], I believe Arsenal are the best side in Europe," he said. "Their strikers especially are great, but perhaps their weakness is defending."

Major obstacle
Ajax believe they can exploit the attacking tendencies of Arsenal wing-backs Ashley Cole and Lauren, but Van der Vaart knows that they will have to be at their best to get a positive result. "If we want to win, or even have a chance of winning, we have to play to the very best of our game," he said.

Future perfect
Whatever happens now, Ajax have surpassed all expectations this season, and Van der Vaart, who signed a new contract last week, insists the best is still far in front of them. "We have some excellent young players," he said. "With Jari [Litmanen] injured, Richard Witschge is the only really experienced player in the squad.

Daunting prospects
"Most of us are between 19 and 21 and we have a great spirit," he added. "It's a good team and we just have to hope we can stay together. As for this season, we've had an excellent start. It's going to be tough, but if we keep playing as we are, I'm sure we can make it to the quarter-finals."