Wenger must now heed case for the defence

If Arsene Wenger had not already faced up to the pressing need for a defensive summer overhaul at Arsenal, that harsh realisation must surely now be dawning.

The Gunners may "only" need a 2-0 home victory against Bayern Munich in their Champions League last-16 second-leg tie at Highbury to reach the quarter-finals. However, with the current standard of defending by Wenger's side, they may need to score four or five times if they are to make it through.

Without Sol Campbell, who is already a doubt for the return fixture with ankle problems, Arsenal are quite simply not up to the defensive task in Europe.

Even Wenger admits Kolo Toure's confidence has been rocked. His only problem is he cannot remove the Ivory Coast centre back from the firing line.

Of all Wenger's mistakes at Arsenal over the past eight years - and there are only a handful - not signing experienced central defensive back-up for Campbell and Toure is one of his biggest.

Philippe Senderos may have talent, but has not shown his potential so far, while Toure is being hit by "second season syndrome" after excelling last year. Lauren is a consistent performer but hardly a world-beater, while Gael Clichy is not yet ready to step into the shoes of Ashley Cole, who was missed almost as much as Campbell.

With uncertainty in goal and Patrick Vieira a shadow of his normal self, Arsenal have stumbled from one defensive horror show to another.

The problem for Wenger is the likes of Ledley King would cost a king's ransom to lure from Tottenham to be reunited with Campbell. However, selling the unsettled Jose Antonio Reyes to fund a defensive shake-up, while fighting to keep Ashley Cole, is nevertheless looking more and more inevitable with each defeat.

Vieira absolved any individuals of blame for the shocking defensive display in Munich, but admitted his frustration at yet another European campaign that could be thrown away.

"It's frustrating. We are conceding too many goals and we need to work at that as a team," he conceded. "We don't blame anybody for the goals because we play as a team, but we need to defend better if we want to go forward."

But in the absence of Campbell that has become a tall order. "Everyone knows Sol is a quality player, an international player and he's really important for the team. But he's not here and we just have to cope with it," added Vieira. "You shouldn't blame Pascal (Cygan) or Kolo about the game. We play as a team. As a team, we have to defend better."

Cygan did not play badly in Munich. In fact, when Campbell returns, it is likely to be Toure who makes way. That, on past evidence, reveals how short of confidence the 23-year-old is.

"I feel that Pascal Cygan had quite a good performance and that Sol Campbell, with his experience, makes everyone better," observed Wenger. "But Kolo has a few doubts in his mind, he has lost a bit of confidence and we have to pump him up."

Meanwhile, Reyes faces the prospect of joining Dennis Bergkamp on the sidelines for the next three domestic games at today's hearing into his violent conduct charge.

Bergkamp yesterday lost his appeal for wrongful dismissal after being sent off during Arsenal's FA Cup fifth-round 1-1 draw Sheffield United last weekend.

As a result, his automatic three-match ban starts with immediate effect, ruling him out of this weekend's game against Southampton, as well as next week's cup replay and a home league match against Portsmouth.

Reyes could be ruled out of exactly the same three games, leaving Arsene Wenger with Thierry Henry and Robin van Persie as his frontline strikers.

Reyes is said to have slapped Andy Liddell amid the melée which ensued over Danny Cullip's tackle on Cesc Fabregas, with Bergkamp having also pushed Cullip in the face to earn his red card.