Champions' League preview: England are set to pay the price for Arsenal's Champions League ambitions. Arsene Wenger is eager to field his injured centre half Sol Campbell in the match with Valencia tonight that his side must at least draw if they are to be certain of entering the quarter-finals.

The manager admitted that the defender might then be unfit for England's games with Liechtenstein on March 29th and, more importantly, Turkey on April 2nd.

Arsenal's great contribution to the national team's defence is liable to be removed completely.

Ashley Cole is recovering from a hernia operation and Wenger is gloomy about David Seaman's prospects of recovery from a hamstring problem.

Wenger suspects that the goalkeeper, who has not travelled to Spain, will also miss the fixtures with Everton and Chelsea.With Martin Keown already ruled out with a hamstring strain, the club's circumstances are discouraging.

If Campbell is missing, Igor Stepanovs will be selected tonight, but he inspires little faith. Although Pascal Cygan is much more experienced, his performances have been too wobbly for him to be considered a cornerstone. Wenger knows it is the 28-year-old Cygan who needs support.

"He has done very well when he is guided by someone who has experience," said the manager. "I do not think he has the confidence to lead on his own. If Sol doesn't play then everyone will have to take a share of the leadership."

The goalkeeper Stuart Taylor will have to accept a particularly large stake. "It is a chance for Stuart to show how good he is," insisted the manager, who classed him tentatively as a potential successor to Seaman. "I think he has improved recently.

"I have not made up my mind yet, but these kind of games can help me to decide."

A studied attitude towards the ordeal of facing Valencia does not diminish the predicament.

Campbell may well be pressed into service even though he cannot receive a painkiller in case, with his sensitivity dulled, he strains the achilles tendon too far and ruptures it.

Such are the fears over the back four that the condition of Patrick Vieira is a secondary issue, despite his damaged knee.

Arsenal were knocked out of the Champions League at the Mestalla two years ago when John Carewscored the only goal of the second leg in the quarter-final.

Valencia once more have to win if they are to emerge from Group B, but they are out of form and will be without Kily Gonzalez, who is injured, and the suspended Ruben Baraja.

Furthermore, the 1-0 defeat at Athletic Bilbao on Sunday snuffed out the last hope of retaining the Spanish championship. Those circumstances, though, leave Arsenal as the sole target of their energies.

Wenger's team are sure to advance to the last eight if Roma beat Ajax, but it will be a wretched night if they are reduced to staring at television screens and listening to radios.

With so much anxiety around, it felt odd that Alex Ferguson's accusations of triumphalism at Highbury should be under review yesterday.

The Arsenal manager will not be talked out of his regard for his squad. "The fact that we are challenged is great," he said of the dwindling lead in the Premiership. "It brings out the best in my team. I believe in my players more strongly than ever."

He was not serene, though, in the dressing-room after being beaten by Blackburn Rovers on Saturday.

Thinking of the collateral damage to David Beckham from a flying boot when Ferguson lost his temper, a good-humoured Wenger made a new assertion of superiority.

"I am a two-footed player," he said. "I can kick it with the right or the left and put it where I want. That is an advantage."

Guardian Service

VALENCIA (possible): Canizares; Reveillere, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Rufete, Angulo, Albelda, Vicente; Aimar; Carew.

ARSENAL (possible): Taylor; Lauren, Campbell or Stepanovs, Cygan, Van Bronckhorst; Parlour, Gilberto Silva, Vieira, Pires; Wiltord, Henry.

Referee: K Vassaras (Greece).