Another victory over struggling Czech side Sparta – who this month sacked manager Jaroslav Hrebik following a disappointing start – would go a long way to ensuring their qualification for the knockout stages.

Arsenal may be embarking on their eighth consecutive Champions League campaign, but have never progressed past the quarter-finals.

Once the move to the multi-million, 60,000-seater Emirates Stadium is completed next season, the north-London club hope the extra revenue streams will enable them to further invest in the team to move up with the European super-powers.

However, such commitment, Wenger accepts, adds extra need for the sustained success.

“I feel it is vital to keep the club at the level where it is at the moment,” said the Arsenal boss.

“It gives you that plus of income which puts us up to a competitive level with the other teams.

“I feel if you want to be really comfortable, you have to qualify every year.

“It is extra pressure, but that is part of the game for everybody.”

Wenger reflected: “The minimum criteria for us is to qualify in the group stage every year, but it is not the minimal that I judge good enough – I want to do much better.”

And the Arsenal boss declared: “I would be unfulfilled if I don’t do it, but I will do it. I am convinced I will do it.

“Is it this year? Next year? In two years? We will do it at some stage because things will just go for you.

“For example we won the FA Cup last season – we had beaten Sheffield United on penalties, then we won on penalties in the final, a game we should never have won. It just went for you.”

Wenger believes the current format of Europe’s elite club competition can favour the lesser-fancied sides, with Liverpool emerging triumphant last season after scraping through their qualifying group.

“You can be a normal team and win the European Cup, but you cannot be a normal team and win the Premiership,” the Arsenal manager observed.

Wenger continued: “It [the Champions League] is less predictable. It is more of real cup formula.

“What you see in the first group stage is there is no surprise, after there is surprise at every round, because over just one or two games, the teams are more levelled, and the form of the day makes a difference.”

Arsenal certainly know how to make the best of their talents in a straight knockout, domestically at least, as their fine recent FA Cup record shows.

However, the Frenchman admits should he be faced with a conflict of interests between the world’s oldest cup competition and European success later on this season, there can be only one “priority”.

“Because we have always done so well in the FA Cup, we have put too much energy maybe on the FA Cup at the moment where it conflicts with the Champions League,” the Gunners boss added.

“I remember we always had a replay in the week before the Champions League came back, and left a little bit too much energy in it.

“It happened with us at Sheffield United last year, and also the year before with Manchester United and Chelsea.”

Wenger added: “It means a lot to me and I am very proud of winning the FA Cup four times, because not many managers can say that in English football.

“But now, having won it four times, if I come into a situation where I have to chose between the FA Cup and the Champions League, of course I would give a priority to the Champions League.”

Although Wenger’s selection worries may be eased by the return of England centre-half Sol Campbell from his hamstring problem in time for Tuesday night, the Arsenal boss maintains skipper Thierry Henry will not be rushed back from a groin injury which has sidelined the French striker since early September.

“It is a gamble I don’t want to take if I am not completely convinced,” Wenger said.

“We have experienced that to be in and out, on the longer term, damages the level of the player.

“For me, it is very important that when he comes back, he is completely ready.”