Wenger hails Gunners' rearguard

Arsene Wenger today produced a throwback to the Arsenal days of old when he saluted the rock-solid Gunners’ rearguard.

George Graham’s nine-year Highbury reign was famously characterised by a Scrooge-like defence supplying the foundations for success.

Of course, the days of ‘1-0 to the Arsenal’ are long gone, with Thierry Henry in particular providing the explosive attacking force which has won him a place alongside Ronaldo and Zinedine Zidane in the nominations for FIFA’s World Footballer of the Year award.

But Wenger, whose table-topping side face Fulham at Highbury tomorrow, today acclaimed the new, tighter Gunners’ back-line which provided the platform for Tuesday’s sensational 5-1 Champions League victory at Inter Milan.

Forward flair provided the fireworks but Wenger is aware the basis of the rout was the defensive display which nullified the enormous threat of Christian Vieri and Obafemi Martins.

Inter, who had won 6-0 in their previous game, were expertly marshalled by Arsenal and only got on the scoresheet when Vieri’s cross spun off Sol Campbell and into the net.

Only Martin Keown may remain from the legendary Arsenal back four he formed with Tony Adams, Lee Dixon and Nigel Winterburn – but Wenger today led the acclaim for the quartet who will face Fulham, namely Kolo Toure, Campbell, Pascal Cygan and Ashley Cole.

“Before the game against Inter, we had news that Martins would not play,” Wenger said. “But when we found out he was playing, you could see everyone was concerned.

“We had previously always conceded too many goals in Europe, but on Tuesday we were a solid defensive unit.

“Our defensive shape worked well and their goal didn’t even come from a clear-cut chance.

“Ashley Cole did very well and also got forward a lot.”

Captain Patrick Vieira will not feature against Chris Coleman’s side, nor in Tuesday’s home Carling Cup clash with Wolves – but Wenger hopes to have him back for the trip to Leicester next Saturday.

The Gunners’ midfield general, 27, suffered a thigh injury against Newcastle on September 26 and Wenger today confessed he had previously handled the Frenchman’s injury incorrectly.

Vieira served a month on the sidelines before making a hasty return as a substitute in the 2-1 Champions League defeat in Dynamo Kiev, in which he aggravated his injury.

Vieira, who has been for treatment at a clinic in northern France, has been out for another five weeks.

And Wenger revealed he feared Vieira had suffered a second setback but his workmanlike training this week has convinced him the player is just seven days away from returning.

“It was a big mistake for me to play Patrick against Dynamo,” Wenger said.

“I was concerned about his injury and hoped he had not had another setback, because when that happens you could be out for two or three months.

“He’s made enormous progress in the last week. He certainly can’t play on Tuesday but should be back in full training on Wednesday or Thursday.

“He has a big hunger to play and we’re having problems keeping him quiet and patient.

“He’s been working tremendously hard and when he comes back it’ll be a boost before Christmas.”

Arsenal’s last league action was the 3-0 victory at Birmingham last Saturday, which brought Wenger face-to-face with Matthew Upson.

The talented centre-back, frustrated at his lack of first-team opportunities at Highbury, was offloaded by Wenger in the January transfer window. He has since flourished and become an England international.

Wenger will face another Gunners’ failure who has gone on to succeed elsewhere in tomorrow’s encounter, when Junichi Inamoto comes back to Highbury.

Fulham’s Japanese midfielder spent a disastrous season in north London in 2001/2002, failing to make a single league appearance.

Inamoto is impressing under Coleman at Loftus Road and Wenger claimed: “I was always convinced Inamoto would make it in England when he got a chance.

“Like Upson, he found too much competition can be bad.

“People think you make a mistake when you let players like them go – but you make a knowing mistake as you know they can’t get a game with you but could play elsewhere in the Premiership.

“It’s important to let players get regular football.”

Wenger has a lengthy list of absentees for the Fulham game. Vieira, Ray Parlour (hamstring), Lauren (suspended and knee injury), Keown (also banned) and Sylvain Wiltord (groin) will be absent.

Henry is expected to shake off his back and hamstring niggles and Gilberto Silva and Dennis Bergkamp are available after their muscle and hamstring problems respectively.