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The Gunners lost in the final two years ago after two late goals saw Barcelona win 2-1 against a ten-man Arsenal. Now Wenger, whose side are unbeaten in all competitions this season and sit on top of the Premier League and Group E in Europe, is convinced that his precocious stars have what it takes to do one better.

Asked why he felt his side could win this year's competition, the Frenchman said: "Because we want it ... because we have more experience.

"I have always been a great believer in this group, even when everybody said that I was crazy. I believe in the players I have and I am very pleased with their attitude."

Wenger, however, is not so disrespectful of Europe's elite to think that it will be an easy task, underlining that his side are but one team of a cluster who could be crowned champions in Moscow next May.

"We are one of the teams who can win it," he said. "But there are between six and 10 teams in Europe who can win it, because this is a cup competition - and you need to go into the knockout stages in good shape."

And Wenger believes that tonight's opposition, Sevilla, are one of those teams that can be victorious. Sevilla lie second in Group E, one point behind leaders Arsenal, who ran out convincing 3-0 victors at the Emirates stadium back in September.

The Spanish side, who won the last two UEFA cups on the trot under former manager Juande Ramos, now at Spurs, will be looking to avenge their defeat.

But with Manolo Jimenez at the helm, Sevilla have lost their last two league matches and find themselves a massive 14 points behind leaders Real Madrid.

"They will want to do their best, because they are playing in front of their home crowd," said Wenger, who believes his opponents' rusty domestic form should not be taken too lightly.

"They had two bad results in the championship and will certainly want to show that they are a very good side. They will also be bearing in mind that we beat them in London and will want to come back with a better performance.

"I still think Sevilla are a very good side. We took advantage of the mistakes they made in the first game - but if you look at the statistics of the game it was very even possession-wise. We were a bit sharper than them on the night.

"But I still think this is a team who can find their way again, and be a danger for the final and to win it in the end. For me, they are one of the potential winners."

A win at the Ramon Sanchez-Pizjuan stadium will make sure that Arsenal, who have already qualified for the knock-out stages, will do so as table toppers.

But Wenger has decided to rest captain William Gallas and striker Emmanuel Adebayor. Full-back Gael Clichy has not travelled to Spain after picking up a knock in the 2-0 win over Wigan on Saturday, while Robin van Persie has still not returned to full match fitness following a knee injury.

Wenger has confirmed that he will give a first Champions League start to Danish striker Nicklas Bendtner, who was instrumental in both Arsenal goals on the weekend after coming off the bench to replace the injured Theo Walcott.

The 19-year-old scored twice in as many games in the recent international break and will be biting at the bit to make an impression in a team which boasts such a colourful array of attacking talent.

Explaining his decision to rotate the squad, Wenger said: "I see it as a compulsory problem to rest some of the players. For example, Gallas has played all the games recently and two France games. And we'll be playing three matches next week.

"Adebayor has as well played all the games until now and the national games. He travelled back on Thursday morning and he was very tired then he gave a lot on Saturday. So I thought why should I play him?

"Bendtner will get a start. He has played well when he has come on. But he had not the best game in Prague so I want to give him another chance.

"It is a gamble but at some stage I have to take one. I want to finish top of the group and keep our [unbeaten] run going. I want to combine the two. That should not be dependent on whether Gallas or Adebayor are starting."

Mathieu Flamini, Cesc Fabregas and Gilberto Silva also return to the squad and will be vying for starting berths in the centre of midfield.

Former Tottenham striker Fredi Kanoute will start up front for Sevilla and will be eager to get one over his former rivals.

FL / Eurosport