Arsene Wenger will decide today whether to recall William Gallas for Arsenal's crucial Champions League clash with Dynamo Kiev.

The Arsenal boss stripped Gallas of the captaincy on Friday and he was dropped for the 3-0 defeat at Manchester City, but the defender may be reinstated tomorrow if he apologises for last week's outburst at his team-mates.

What may now force Wenger's hand is that he needs Gallas in the team. Arsenal were poor defensively at City and cannot afford any slip ups tomorrow. Wenger said: "[Cesc] Fabregas will be available, and maybe Gallas."

Gallas trained with the squad yesterday and has told Wenger that, although he accepts his outburst was damaging, he thought the most serious allegations about dressing-room unrest had been made "off the record".

French international team-mate Florent Malouda has told Gallas he must now take responsibility for his actions.

Paris Saint Germain are hoping to take Gallas on loan in January and hope the presence of former Chelsea team-mate Claude Makelele in the dressing room will convince him to make the switch. But Chelsea midfielder and close friend Malouda hopes he resolves his dispute.

He said: "I can't judge his attitude in the Arsenal dressing room, it's not my problem. He has to be responsible for what he said and in this context I know it's difficult for him, but when you are friends you have to support them even if everyone is against them."

Gallas's absence did nothing to help a leaky defence that gifted Stephen Ireland the opener at Eastlands. Gael Clichy and Mikael Silvstre got in a horrible tangle and the defence wasn't any more convincing when Robinho made it two in the 57th minute or when Johann Djourou brought down Daniel Sturridge to concede a last-minute penalty.

Wenger's opposite number at City, Mark Hughes, offered some comfort when he said: "He's been in this situation many times, I'm sure, but maybe it hasn't been as publicised. Maybe there's been similar situations have gone under the radar."