Dortmund v Arsenal (highlights TV3 and ITV): Arsene Wenger made clear yesterday that his squad have been "hurt" and "hit hard" by three straight defeats after going unbeaten for seven months. In an effort to ease the pain at Borussia Dortmund tonight the Arsenal manager will demand greater emphasis on defence.
Although Wenger believes his team were unfortunate to lose to Blackburn on Saturday, he is also aware their anxiety to win led to lapses at the back. Greater pragmatism will be the watchword here as the Frenchman looks to stabilise matters after a sequence he recognises has left "doubt" in the minds of his players.
That is not to say a team renowned for flair will suddenly adopt the approach George Graham favoured on European trips and try to grind out the draw they require to guarantee a place in the second group stage.
Wenger remains true to the instincts which have seen Arsenal score in 50 consecutive league matches. Always confident his side will find the net, he will surely remind them patience was key in their 2-0 win over Dortmund last month and a 1-0 victory in Auxerre.
Freddie Ljungberg said the slip-ups would make everyone try harder, but Wenger knows such determination must be accompanied by calm. He wants the errors cut out that contributed to Arsenal conceding six goals in three games, compared with five in the previous nine.
"There is room to improve our defensive record," he acknowledged. "Against Blackburn we maybe wanted a bit too much to force the victory and so forgot some basics in our defending. We want to go back to those basics tomorrow and defend well."
Wenger has left Dennis Bergkamp at home and could lose the striker to a three-match ban after the FA confirmed it will study footage which appears to show the Dutchman stamping on Blackburn's Nils-Eric Johansson. Wenger insisted he had still not seen the incident, despite watching a re-run of the game, and said he would accept the verdict.
He is likely to start without Robert Pires but welcomes back Patrick Vieira to face a side that has lost only once this season.
PROBABLE LINE-UPS
BORUSSIA DORTMUND (4-3-1-2): Lehmann; Evanilson, Metzelder, Worns, Dede; Reuter, Kehl, Frings; Rosicky; Amoroso, Koller.
ARSENAL (4-4-2): Seaman; Lauren, Campbell, Cygan, Cole; Wiltord, Gilberto Silva, Vieira, Ljungberg; Kanu, Henry.
Guardian Service
