Whites aim to exploit Arsenal injury crisis Wanderers will be going all out tomorrow to take advantage of a manpower crisis that has damaged the bedrock of Arsene Wenger's title ambitions.

Arsene Wenger goes into the top of the table clash at Highbury without Sol Campbell and Lee Dixon, who are injured, and Martin Keown, who is suspended.

The Gunners are also sweating on the fitness of inspirational skipper, Tony Adams, who is a serious doubt with a foot injury - problems Sam Allardyce and his players are determined to exploit.

"It could be a good time to catch them," assistant boss Phil Brown suggested today.

Wanderers are clearly not under-estimating Arsenal's awesome attacking ability but with Gilles Grimandi, Matthew Upson and Igors Stepanovs on standby to be drafted in at the back, they believe there are cracks in Wenger's defences.

"The Arsenal way was built on a solid foundation," Brown explained. "and Keown, Campbell and Adams could be missing.

"But Arsenal's front two lads are a danger. They are always capable of creating something from nothing and Thierry Henry's record speaks for itself."

Such is the confidence in the camp, however, that table-topping Wanderers believe they are up to the test and can prove to their remaining critics that they have ability as well as team spirit.

On the eve of their biggest test yet, Reebok aces have complained that their footballing quality has not received the credit it deserves.

The pre-season favourites for the drop have been the surprise story of the season as they find themselves at the summit of club football after six games.

But it frustrates members of the Wanderers camp that the standard of football they have produced has been totally overlooked by the football world.

They face the stiffest test yet of that ability when they come up against a highly skilled Arsenal side on their own patch tomorrow.

But the prospect of being seen to set themselves up for a fall did not stop them declaring their disappointment at being seen as a hard working side with only token ability.

Striker Michael Ricketts said: "It is our ability which has got us 11 points but everybody keeps talking about our team spirit.

"We are there on merit and we have got ability as well as team spirit."

Teammate Mike Whitlow added: "We have some quality players. There is plenty of experience at the back and a lot of young players who have done great."

Wanderers will have to combine all that ability and spirit if they are to do the same kind of job on Arsenal that they have done on five of the six sides they have taken points from this season.

Wanderers could have Per Frandsen back after he missed Wednesday night's draw at Blackburn with an ankle injury.

Taking a longer term view of his side's prospects, Brown believes they are benefiting by more than just points with their flying start to the season.

"We are looking at stages of the season. At the start you are looking to build a foundation and when you get that foundation you are looking to build on it and if you can do that it can be easier at the end.

"If you have not got that foundation it can be a struggle at the end but you can avoid that struggle by getting a strong foundation."

They could scarcely have build a stronger foundation than leading the Premiership after six games. But defender Mike Whitlow sounded a note of caution to fans who may be getting carried by the early season success.

"Being at the top doesn't come into it at the moment," he said.

"We found how hard it is to get 11 points from six games and it is going to be a long hard season with a lot of hard work needed to be done."

Whitlow, a revelation at centre half at the veteran stage of his career, knows all about trying to survive at the top level after winning promotion as he has experienced it twice before with Leeds and Leicester.

He explained: "The first year up is always the most difficult because there is an adjustment.

"We all know it is going to be hard but we will stick together right the way through and if the worst scenario happens we will be able to look back and say we gave it our best shot."