Wenger: set-piece lapses will cost us the title

ARSENE WENGER admits Arsenal's title defence will fail if they do not sort out their costly lapses at set-pieces quickly.

The Gunners twice led against Barclays Premiership leaders Chelsea thanks to a double from Thierry Henry but each time they were pegged back, first by John Terry's header from Arjen Robben's corner and then Eidur Gudjohnsen nodded in the Blues' second from a Frank Lampard free-kick.

It was a depressingly familiar tale, with the Gunners having been similarly undermined against the likes of Bolton and Southampton, as well as Panathinaikos in the Champions League.

Indeed, Wenger recently worked out that about half of Arsenal's goals against had stemmed from their inability to defend set-pieces properly.

Asked if Arsenal risked losing out on the title if they did not sort the worrying problem out, he admitted: "That is true. At set-pieces against Chelsea, we were short and always in trouble. But apart from that, I don't think they created a goal chance.

"I still feel it's a problem of experience and size. In midfield, we are very short and so are our full-backs. That means we have only two central defenders who can win the ball at set-pieces."

With Patrick Vieira missing through suspension against Chelsea, Sol Campbell was left as his side's only recognised defensive player over six feet tall.

None of the other three - Robert Pires, Thierry Henry and Dennis Bergkamp - are renowned as great headers, while Mathieu Flamini, Ashley Cole, Cesc Fabregas and Jose Reyes are all under 5ft 10in.

No wonder, therefore, that with John Terry, William Gallas, Didier Drogba, Eidur Gudjohnsen and Frank Lampard to watch out for, Campbell was being pulled all over the place.

Even he could not defend on his own and, with Wenger again preferring Manuel Almunia, who is not used to coming off his line, Arsenal paid the price. Restoring the experienced Jens Lehmann, who at least aggressively tries to intercept crosses, could be one partial solution, as will be the return of Vieira's 6ft 4in frame and immense leadership.

Arsenal must also learn to keep their concentration at vital moments as they are leaving their potent attack with a task to outscore their opponents.Henry observed: "It is strange. It is starting to be a lot of goals conceded. But they are goals we can correct, if not quite easily, then we can still do it if we work on it. The most important thing is that we played as a team, although we did lack some concentration at set-pieces."

Chelsea manager Jose Mourinho agreed it had been a crucial element of the match, and added: "We scored two goals at set-plays and had two other chances. We were better than them in the air."

However, Henry still warned Chelsea that the Gunners can once again produce a second-half surge to come from behind - just as they managed in 1998 and 2002.

Arsenal led from the front last season but they are used to mounting comebacks and Henry insists they have the ability to make up even the current deficit behind Chelsea.

"The mentality should not be a problem. We have to wait for Chelsea to drop some points but, if they do that, we have to show the consistency to take advantage," he said. "The most important thing is to go through the Christmas and New Year games. Usually, when you go through those well, you are difficult to catch. So there is a lot of hope and plenty of time left."

Time is still on Arsenal's side but their goals against record is a cause for concern. They have conceded 22 goals in their 17 league games this season - compared with eight by Chelsea and 10 by Manchester United.That is already almost equal to the 26 goals against in their entire 38-game campaign in 2003-04, when their defence was superb with virtually the same personnel.

The loss of the powerful figures of Gilberto Silva and Edu to injury in midfield has nevertheless had ramifications further back, even though Fabregas shone once again against Chelsea.

Indeed, Henry was full of praise for Fabregas and Flamini, who formed an emergency central midfield partnership aged just 37 in total.

"Everyone was speculating about our youngsters in midfield and how they were going to cope. But I don't think they were outplayed at all," he said. "They were coming out and 'biting' people. They were just tremendous. They have so much desire and commitment and that's what you need when you play for Arsenal."

That mentality must be replicated throughout the team, and especially at set-pieces. For Arsenal's main rivals at the moment are themselves.