LONDON -- Arsene Wenger has yet to decide whether to restore Petr Cech and Per Mertesacker to the lineup against Crystal Palace this weekend, but acknowledged his team needs to shore up their aerial defence.
Arsenal allowed Andy Carroll to score a quickfire hat trick from three crosses in the 3-3 draw at West Ham last weekend, with Wenger having opted to start with David Ospina in goal and Gabriel Paulista at centre-back.
Against Palace on Sunday, Wenger's team will face former Gunner in Emmanuel Adebayor, who can cause similar problems in the air.
"They are a big offensive force, so we need to of course rectify the fact that we conceded goals at West Ham and come back to be strong defensively," Wenger said.
However, when it comes Mertesacker and Cech, he insisted he has yet to make up his mind.
"I haven't decided yet. We are 48 hours before the game. I will see," Wenger said on Friday at his news conference. "And when [the goalkeeper] is decided I have to inform the keeper first."
However, the Arsenal boss said the decision to stick with Ospina against West Ham was related to Cech just having a returned from a month-long injury layoff with a calf problem.
"Petr Cech is our No. 1, but as well Ospina is a fantastic goalkeeper.," he added. "And when you look at his numbers, they are absolutely exceptional in the Premier League. And I felt that Petr Cech was just one week in training and just coming back."
Regardless of who plays, Wenger is hoping his team is better prepared to deal with crosses into the box this time. Asked what they had been working on in training this week, the Frenchman said: "On heading the ball."
Arsenal need a win to maintain any chance of catching Premier League leaders Leicester, trailing Claudio Ranieri's team by 13 points with 18 points to play for.
Wenger acknowledged that his team "have to look behind us" in the fight for a top-four finish, but said the Gunners would not give up the title race as long as they have a mathematical chance.
"It is perceived that the championship is over but I don't believe that completely, even if Leicester is in a very strong position," Wenger said. "I think we have to continue to fight until the last minute of the season."
Wenger has also had his run-ins with Palace boss Alan Pardew in the past, including a famous touchline clash in 2006 when he pushed the then-West Ham manager after a game at Upton Park.
But Wenger insisted there was no chance of similar scenes on Sunday.
"At the Emirates it is quieter because the distance between the two managers is quite good. And you need nearly to sprint to have a go at each other," he said. "So overall, on that front the danger is not too big."