Even though none of his players were involved, the Arsenal manager was more than happy to see England return to winning ways in the Euro 2008 qualifiers.

Through a combination of injury and suspension, national team boss Steve McClaren suddenly fell upon a winning formula, with the likes of Shaun Wright-Phillips, Gareth Barry and in particular Emile Heskey all drawing great praise for their performances against Israel and Russia.

Wenger knows all about the intricacies of having to strike the right balance, with the side now remoulded following the departure of talisman Thierry Henry to Barcelona during the summer.

The French coach accepts it is a "subtle" art.

Wenger said: "I am very happy finally that England has done very well in the last two games because it was always the same uncertainty here in England, 'Are we good enough? Do we over-rate the players? The other countries win, and we do not.

"It is fantastic for the game here, and it shows for example that players like Gareth Barry and Emile Heskey, they were two very important players in the last two games.

"That shows how quickly things change in the game."

Wenger added: "A very famous manager, Rinus Michels, once said the balance of the team depends on one player, not more. And that is why team sport is so subtle as well.

"You always look as a manager to find that perfect balance.

"It is like an engine, sometimes you think okay 'We are not creative enough, I put one more offensive player in there.' And suddenly you disrupt everything."

Arsenal have impressed during the opening few matches of the new season, and take an unbeaten record into this weekend's north London derby with Tottenham at White Hart Lane ahead of the start of the group stages of the Champions League.

"Is the balance right now in my team? It looks, yes. But the big games will show it," added Wenger.

Manuel Almunia is set to continue in goal on Saturday because of an elbow injury to German Jens Lehmann.

Asked if Wenger would have brought the veteran - who made a couple of high-profile mistakes this season - back were he fit, the Arsenal boss replied: "At the moment I don't know, I didn't really wonder 'Do I do that?'.

"I knew on Wednesday Jens couldn't play, so, for me it's continuity at the moment."

As to who was his first-choice goalkeeper, Wenger quipped: "We will see, it is down to them.

"That is not the only difficult decision I have to make because there's competition in every position now.

"Do I play Gilberto or not on Saturday, because he only comes back tomorrow [Friday], so it's very open for Saturday's game."

Wenger was at the Emirates Stadium on Thursday afternoon to help launch the Arsenal Opus.

The book - which measures half-a-metre square and weighs over 37 kilograms - took more than two years to produce and includes some 400,000 words and many photos which have never been published. There will only be 500 issues made and will retail from around £4,500.

Wenger is, of course, featured heavily in the publication, having brought unprecedented success to the club over the past decade.

The highly-respected coach last week ended speculation about his own future by agreeing a new three-year deal.

He said: "I met this club at the right moment of my life. I was mature enough to give what I had learned.

"I had difficult times at the start, but the club was always behind me.

"I had the freedom to work with my ideas. I had the support of the club and the fans. That is the biggest luxury in the job.

"I am at a stage in my career now where I don't want to be associated with anyone else."

Wenger added: "I am always tuned towards the future, I don't look back.

"We try to make history - that belongs to people who love the club. "We try to win the next game with the right style of play.

"You try to do as well as you can.

"I look back and I think we have not done enough - I always want every day and every game to have success."