Former Arsenal defender Lee Dixon believes the Gunners' current defensive problems could leave them struggling to make the Premier League's top eight.

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger accepted after a 2-1 defeat by Tottenham on Sunday that the title was out of reach and they would focus on the top four.

But Dixon said: "I think top four is out of their reach now, I really do, so you are looking at top six.

"Yet the way they are playing now, can they reach the top eight?"

Arsenal's struggles in defence were compounded after the game when the club learned that right-back Bacary Sagna would be out for three months after breaking his leg following a collision with Benoit Assou-Ekotto.

And they are also without injured centre-backs Thomas Vermaelen, Laurent Koscielny and Johan Djourou, as well as long-term absentee Jack Wilshere.

The Gunners' defeat at Spurs was their fourth of the season - and leaves them 15th in the Premier League table.

But Arsenal owner Stan Kroenke recently moved to reassure an under-pressure Wenger, by saying the Frenchman is the only person who will decide if he leaves his position.