Wenger worries about trip to Moscow but not team spirit

Arsene Wenger hailed the "fantastic" spirit of his under-fire Arsenal team in responding to a week of disciplinary criticism with a victory against Newcastle United at Highbury last night, even though they now face a growing injury crisis.

"By the end, we were nearly down to eight men on the pitch, but we never gave in and won the game, so that was fantastic," the Arsenal manager said. "It shows you all about the spirit and how united the team is."

They will begin their preparations for a trip to Moscow to face Lokomotiv in the Champions' League with Sol Campbell not fully fit after his week of compassionate leave and with Freddie Ljungberg, Martin Keown, Ashley Cole and Patrick Vieira all doubtful.

"Patrick has a muscle strain on his thigh, Ashley got a kick on his knee, Freddie has an ankle strain and Martin [Keown] had a big kick on the fibula that he broke last year and felt the same pain," Wenger explained as he catalogued his players' physical ailments after a match that was robust but never dirty.

"So, at the moment, it could be miraculous if we could get all four players fit. If it all goes badly, we could be without all four of them for Tuesday. It's certainly a possibility."