With Thomas Vermaelen still sidelined indefinitely by a troublesome Achilles problem and Sebastien Squillaci set to be out for at least three weeks with a hamstring strain picked up in the FA Cup third-round draw against Leeds, the Gunners suddenly find themselves short at the heart of their backline.

Reserve-team captain Ignasi Miquel, 18, was on the bench at the weekend, and could feature again in tomorrow night's Carling Cup semi-final first leg at Ipswich.

Both Bacary Sagna, who is in the middle of a three-match ban after his red card against Manchester City, and midfielder Alex Song can play in the middle of defence.

Wenger insists Arsenal will not simply make a panic buy as cover for Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou.

Bolton's Gary Cahill, Montpellier's Bosnian international Emir Spahic and Werder Bremen stopper Per Mertesacker - who would be ineligible for the Champions League tie against Barcelona having played in the same group as Tottenham - are all reported targets.

Wenger told Arsenal TV Online: "We always have people in mind, and we look everywhere.

"It is difficult to find at this period of the season, but overall I feel at the moment we have so many games that it is very important to focus on the next game.

"If we find somebody at the right level we will do it, if not we will continue like this.

"We have still solutions internally with Miquel, with Song who can play centre-back and with Squillaci, who should come back very quickly."

Wenger added: "Ideally it would be better if they were adapted to English football because if you need players now in January you cannot wait three months before they can play for you.

"If the opportunity turns up we will fetch it, but if not we can cope. I believe we can cope."

Arsenal needed a last-minute penalty from captain Cesc Fabregas, who had started on the bench, to keep them in the FA Cup with a 1-1 draw against Leeds.

Wenger believes that game will have served as a warning to his side against any thoughts of complacency at Portman Road tomorrow, where new manager Paul Jewell will be in the stands for the first time since taking over from Roy Keane.

"We have been warned," Wenger said. "We will certainly be on our toes going to Ipswich.

"Our last game has shown that against a Championship team we must be completely up for it and focused from the first minute on if we don't want to be surprised."

Arsenal are said to have been scouting Ipswich's England under-21 striker Connor Wickham.

Wenger, however, knows it will all be about collective performance tomorrow.

"In the Premier League there are one or two players standing out where the club has spent a lot of money. In the Championship you face the team as a compact unit who is ready to fight against you, and I think that is what we will face against Ipswich," he said.

"The pressure is on Arsenal and they have nothing to lose. That is part of being at Arsenal to deal with that and I accept that completely."

Former Arsenal captain Thierry Henry returned to the club this week to train as he keeps himself fit ahead of the new Major League Soccer season.

Wenger believes the 33-year-old, who left for Barcelona in 2007, can only have a positive impact.

"Thierry is in the dressing room with the players, they are happy to have him back," said the Arsenal boss.

"He sees as well how much they have evolved since he has left the club."

Wenger added: "Thierry can help them to have confidence, he is a very intelligent boy who has massive experience.

"Of course he can help the players in the dressing room and that is what he does.

"We are just happy to help him to get fit and he is happy to be back here."