The return of talisman striker and inspirational captain Thierry Henry has also helped the north-London side climb the Barclays Premiership table, netting a double strike in Saturday’s 3-2 win at Wigan which saw them move up into third place, albeit still some 11 points behind leaders Chelsea but with a match in hand.

Despite injuries depriving Wenger of options at left-back with England defender Ashley Cole and his stand-in Gael Clichy – both having suffered a fractured bone in their foot – and still missing the services of Belarus international midfielder Alexander Hleb, the Arsenal boss could nevertheless afford the luxury of leaving out three of his senior men.

Kolo Toure, Gilberto and goalkeeper Jens Lehmann rested at home this week, along with non-flying Dutchman Dennis Bergkamp.

The Arsenal manager has every faith in his young Gunners who have been brought into the travelling party, with Cameroon midfielder Alexandre Song expected to feature, and can see signs his squad is slowly “regenerating” into a force, both at home and in Europe.

“I feel slowly the team is getting where we want the team to be now,” the Frenchman said.

“We are regenerating the team and I believe it is developing well, but the next three or four months will be vital and crucial for us.

“Certainly for me the potential of the team is great.

“The spirit of the team is great inside, the belief is there and the next three or four months will tell us how far we can go.”

Arsenal have not previously made it past the quarter-finals of the competition, having been knocked out by Valencia in 2001 and Chelsea in 2004.

And despite suggestions this could be the Gunners year to conquer Europe, Wenger maintained: “I am not fool enough to say that in the group stage, you can say who will win the European Cup.

“You see around Europe and you know you will have a tough game, no matter who you play.

“But we are already qualified, and I know we can be better in December than we did in November with our players on the way up, and in February even much better than today – that is just down to us, how hard we work and how focussed we are.

“That is a good sign, and then you can give a game to anybody.”

Even though Arsenal are already secured their place in the knockout stages, Wenger intends to make sure his men clinch first place in the group, and thus gain seeding for the next round.

While 17-year-old Song – nephew of former Liverpool and West Ham defender Rigobert – could well start in midfield alongside fellow teenager Cesc Fabregas tomorrow, the likes of defender Johan Djourou and young strikers Arturo Lupoli and Nicklas Bendtner – prolific in the reserves – will probably have to wait for their taste of European action.

“We want to do a job well and finish top of the group because we have not done that,” insisted Wenger.

“If we get a bad draw by finishing second then you would say we did not do the job well and in some way it is right you are punished.

“We also want to respect the fight for the UEFA spot.”