Champions League Group B  / Arsenal v Dynamo Kiev: As Arsenal stand on the brink of European collapse, Arsene Wenger believes his side have been short-changed in Europe.

Though the Gunners, with just a single point in the competition this season, face a make-or-break match against Dynamo Kiev tonight, Wenger pleads that their position is undeserved.

"We have got the minimum of what we have deserved in nearly every game in this competition," insisted Wenger, who is seeking to put behind him the 2-1 defeat from the Olympiyskyi Stadium a fortnight ago and the 3-0 reverse to Internazionale at Highbury a month before.

"Against Inter we had 20 shots on goal, the same in Kiev, where we also had 16 corners. We gave away two goals there but they were not logical chances that they created."

Statistically, Arsenal's troubles in the competition are endemic. Despite their domestic strength they have won only once in 12 matches in Europe. The reliance on Thierry Henry is plain as he has almost been Arsenal's exclusive source of Champions League goals, with nine of the last 12 the club have scored. Yet Wenger seeks to deny it.

"The team does not rely on Thierry but on big team performances," said Wenger. "When the team performs, Thierry has more chances to score goals. We all know Thierry can score but first of all it is important to have a good team performance. The way we won against Leeds, when there is space in the game, everyone can score. If the team plays well, the goals come naturally. I think it is unfair to put pressure on Thierry."

Unfortunately for Wenger, that space has not been forthcoming in Europe. He knows why, admitting that their Group B opponents, Kiev, Lokomotiv Moscow and Inter, are "much better than lots of teams who play in this country".

Despite the restrictions that are placed on Arsenal in Europe, it appears that Henry's team-mates continue to look to him for the goals that will unlock teams.

So inspirational was the Frenchman in overturning a 1-0 deficit at Roma last season, transforming it into a 3-1 win with a hat-trick, that Freddie Ljungberg admits: "It's great that Thierry's been scoring goals and as long as we're scoring, it's not a problem."

But Arsenal do have a problem, and it must be addressed tonight lest they lose all but a remote mathematical chance of progression to the knockout phase of the competition. There is £11.5 million in additional revenue available to the tournament winners and, with the fiscal limitations imposed on them by their £460 million new stadium development in mind, Arsenal would love to be sitting at the top table.

With their FA Cup pedigree Arsenal believe they would be able to impose themselves on the last 16, with those ties again set to be played over two legs. First, however, they must get there, and Wenger is clinging to the belief that the desperate situation is still not hopeless.

"Juventus were in the final last year and they were nearly knocked out," said Wenger. "They had seven points and they qualified by a margin that was very small."

But Arsenal have not made things easy for themselves and do not share the defensive resilience of the Italian champions or indeed of Kiev. But Ljungberg believes that Arsenal have been at their best in adversity this year, and he may be right.

A worthy 0-0 draw at Old Trafford followed the drubbing by Inter and the announcement of a record £275,000 in fines for the club and their players led to a 4-1 destruction of Leeds on Saturday.

"Of course we feel pressure as we know what's at stake and we have to win," the Swede added. "Normally we're a bit better when our backs are to the wall."

Arsenal v Dynamo Kiev, Highbury, 7.45 On TV: Sky Sports 2.