Wenger backs young Gunners to fire against Ajax

ARSENE WENGER has every faith his young Gunners can excel when they take on Ajax in the Champions League tonight.

The Arsenal boss has been forced to field a below-strength side in Amsterdam after losing Brazilian midfielder Gilberto to injury in the goalless draw at West Ham, as well as experienced campaigner Dennis Bergkamp and centre-back Philippe Senderos.

Already without injured striker Thierry Henry and suspended duo Robin van Persie and Jens Lehmann, Wenger was at least able to report winger Robert Pires looks set to recover from a dead leg in time to play.

It will, nevertheless, be far from the side Wenger would have preferred to have sent out at the Amsterdam ArenA as Arsenal seek a second successive win from group B. The Frenchman, though, firmly believes the likes of Matthew Flamini, Cesc Fabregas, Jose Antonio Reyes and Alexander Hleb can rise to the challenge.

"I concede that we are not as irresistible going forward as we can be when we have everybody available but we are looking solid, disciplined, and technically strong with a good spirit," he said.

In the absence of Henry and should Pires be passed fit, Wenger is likely to deploy Hleb and the Frenchman on the flanks, with Freddie Ljungberg tucked in just behind central striker Reyes.

"Usually I prefer to play every player in his best position, but if you ask me will Freddie Ljungberg play up front, I will say it is a strong possibility because I do not feel he is really out of position."

Whatever formation Wenger fields against Ajax who finished runners-up in the Dutch league last season and have picked up only 10 points from six games of the new campaign there is no doubt Arsenal will once again miss the quality of Henry.

The prolific French forward is currently sidelined with a groin injury, and Wenger, who has drafted young Italian striker Arturo Lupoli into a Champions League squad for the first time, admits whoever plays up front is going to feel a weight of expectation.

"That is a little bit the danger with Thierry he scores every year 25 goals and then is not there. He is a world-class player and you miss him.

"It is a double effect as well, that the players who come in for him are under immense pressure to be compared with him. I feel that it affects sometimes the performance of the younger players. His absence is so strong, that it puts extra pressure on the players."

Meanwhile, Arsenal captain Sol Campbell feels the current selection concerns facing the manager are a golden opportunity for others to stake their claim.

Speaking at Amsterdam Airport, the England defender said: "Obviously we would prefer it if we had most of our players fit, but we have got to roll our sleeves up and keep it going. The main thing is the players believing in themselves.

"We have got to win some Champions League games and set our stall out to get points in the bag. We don't want to be scrapping around in the last few games to get through."

The 31-year-old has just returned to first-team duties following a long injury lay-off with a calf problem.

"Things are shaping up well. I am training every day and getting stronger in each game," he reflected

Wenger hopes Gilberto who left Upton Park on crutches at the weekend could be available for Sunday's match against Birmingham at Highbury.

"The scan is quite positive. We feared the day after the scan that it would be four to six weeks, but now he has an outside chance for Sunday or at least after the international break," said the Arsenal manager.