Wenger refuses to press panic button after defensive debacle

ARSENAL'S season is now balanced on a delicately-poised see-saw after Blackburn heaped a significant weight on the end marked 'failure'.

The side that has thrilled, entertained and been admired all season is in danger of stumbling within sight of the finishing line.

Three draws in the Champions League means Wednesday's trip to Valencia falls in the all-or-nothing category and to make matters worse defeat at Blackburn in the Premiership has given hope to closest pursuers Manchester United.

Manager Arsene Wenger insists his side will recover from recent exertions in time for the Valencia game, but Arsenal look to have immense problems in defence with Sol Campbell rated very doubtful and Martin Keown out for three weeks.

After Damien Duff and Tugay had made the most of Arsenal's mistakes to score goals in either half, Wenger admitted: "We were not completely reassuring defensively." Wenger is often a master of understatement but such a remark should be filed under 'stating the bleeding obvious'.

If Arsenal win either the Premiership or the Champions League this season then it will be in spite of rather than because of their defence.

After Keown had limped off, Pascal Cygan was the only out-and-out defender in the back four. Even more worryingly for the Gunners, he was by far the worst. Wenger claimed it was a one-off result and that his players would shake off their lethargy.

He said: "We have to accept you are only human beings and you can have an off-day. I would only worry if it was repeated. They will recover. It's sometimes like that when you play every three days, you are very good then you suddenly drop down.

"It's very difficult to predict how you will be physically. The championship is still in our hands. We still have four games at home and by being strong there we will win the championship.

"Arsenal's home game against Manchester United next month is assuming increasing significance, and the Gunners will have to endure Sir Alex Ferguson doing his level best to influence the outcome of their other games too.

"People talk about defending from the front and that's what he did. He was magnificent."