Wenger dilemma

Arsene Wenger must find an emergency solution to a defensive crisis ahead of tomorrow’s trip to Wigan as Arsenal look to avoid yet another post-international hangover.

Wenger is set to be without both of his leading left-backs, Ashley Cole and Gael Clichy, until at least Christmas and possibly into the new year.

France Under-21 defender Clichy, who has been covering for Ashley Cole for the past six games, has suffered exactly the same injury as the England international – a stress fracture in his right foot.

Wenger told the club’s website, www.arsenal.com: “The story is that Gael will need surgery. The injury is in the same place he had a screw put in before.

“The quite remarkable thing, in a negative way, is that he has the same problem as Ashley Cole.”

Wenger’s most natural back-up, Justin Hoyte, is on loan at Sunderland, while other options include centre-backs Kolo Toure or Philippe Senderos, right-back Lauren or utility player Emmanuel Eboue.

Wigan manager Paul Jewell has warned his players to forget about autograph hunting when Arsenal visit the JJB Stadium.

Jewell’s remarkable achievers head into the fixture as the in-form team in the Barclays Premiership, with six victories from their last six matches, keeping five clean sheets in the process to trail leaders Chelsea by just six points.

Jewell hopes the players do not all of a sudden become star-struck after previously proving they can live life in the fast lane.

“I am not afraid of anyone, and neither should the players be either, because if you are afraid of playing a football match then you are going to lose the game,” stated Jewell.

“We have to be respectful of Arsenal, just like anybody else. On the pitch we cannot show any respect because once we kick off it is 11 versus 11. Before and after the game, yes, because that is the way we are.

“But we can’t be worrying or dreaming of playing them. We live in the real world and we deserve to be here.”

Darren Ambrose knows Charlton will face another stern test of their top-six credentials when Manchester United come to The Valley.

The Addicks saw their 100% away record come to an abrupt end with a 4-1 defeat at Blackburn before the international break, while United secured a morale-boosting victory over leaders Chelsea.

“It is going to be a massive test for us,” he said. “They are a fantastic side, but we will give it our best because we need to get back on track.

“If everyone gets at them, hopefully we can come away with a result.

“We are treating it as a cup final – everyone will be going out like that. If we do, anything could happen.”

Gary Neville put himself in contention for a Manchester United first-team return by coming through an hour of last night’s reserve-team win over West Brom.

Neville made his comeback in a 4-1 triumph after three months on the sidelines with a groin injury suffered during the Champions League qualifier with Debrecen.

It was a welcome sight for Sir Alex Ferguson, whose squad has been decimated by injuries this season and on a chilly evening at Ewen Fields, Neville turned in his usual professional performance, although he was not extended by a disappointing Baggies outfit.

When he pulled Neville out of a planned outing at Burton Albion on Monday, Ferguson suggested the veteran England international was unlikely to be involved at Charlton tomorrow.

However, with a crucial Champions League encounter with Villarreal looming next week, there must be a chance Neville will grab a place on the bench at The Valley in the hope he can prove his fitness ahead of the Spaniards’ visit.

Bryan Robson admits West Brom must liven up from dead-ball situations if they are to climb clear of relegation trouble.

Robson, whose side face Everton this weekend, said: “I have watched the West Ham video (their last opponents) and we had 21 set plays from corners or free-kicks yet we never looked like scoring from the first header or anticipating where the second ball would land.

“West Ham had only a third of those sort of situations but looked more threatening. That was the difference, and has been for a lot of the current season.”

David Moyes cut through the speculation about his future this week to set Everton a target that will pull them away from the relegation zone.

Successive wins have gone some way to lifting the gloom in the blue half of Merseyside by moving Everton out of the bottom three.

But boss Moyes, who has tried not to be distracted by reports linking him with Rangers, has demanded Everton extend that run to move up the table in double-quick time.

Moyes said: “We need to be winning five or six games in a row if we can. That’s the way we want to be going about things.

“We have won two in a row and we now want to make it three. I am only looking at the next game but I am thinking about us getting that run of wins. We need to make it three before we think about anything else.”