The impending clash with the UEFA Cup holders has been somewhat overshadowed by the news Russian businessman Alisher Usmanov has increased his shareholding in the Gunners.

Wenger said: "We are in a position where, at the moment, I don't feel there is anything big moving around the club or uncertainty surrounding the ownership.

"For me, it looks to be settled, the situation at the club.

"The directors don't need to reassure me because they have already come out and said they don't need to sell."

Wenger - who earlier this month signed a new three-year deal with Arsenal - added: "Of course you care who is on the board because some people are more intrusive than others.

"But the tradition at Arsenal Football Club has always been for a manager to do his work like he wants to do it. That is the tradition of the club."

Another "tradition" which Wenger has instilled since his arrival at the north London club a decade ago is a first-class global scouting network and the development of young talent.

One such player to have benefited from Wenger's guidance has been Cesc Fabregas.

The 20-year-old Spain midfielder has taken over the mantle from former talisman Thierry Henry to become the key man for Arsenal this season.

Fabregas has netted five goals this campaign - already more than the whole of last season - including a fine strike in the 3-1 win at arch-rivals Tottenham on Saturday.

Wenger believes the best is yet to come from the former Barcelona trainee, whom he has likened to French superstar Michel Platini, a former double world footballer of the year and triple European player of the year.

"Fabregas is young and he has to improve. That is all he has to do and let other people judge how good he is," said Wenger.

"I have played him since he was 16 so I must believe he is good.

"He has not to worry too much about how other people see him. He must worry more about how he can develop."

Sevilla striker Frederic Kanoute is confident the Spanish club can perform well in the Champions League after winning two successive UEFA Cups.

The Mali international said: "I believe that we can win, I have faith that we can go far in the competition but we will have to see after each game.

"We are going to have matches in the Champions League that are much more difficult than in the UEFA Cup, but the team is prepared and ready for this competition.

"We have a better squad than last year, with more experience, and more players. For every position there are two or three players."