Europe's governing body are due to implement the system for the 2013-14 season, which will give them the right to ban teams from Champions League or Europa League participation if they continue to spend more than they earn over a rolling three-year period.

The likes of Manchester City and Paris St Germain have risen to the top of their respective domestic leagues on the back of the vast wealth of their Middle Eastern owners.

Earlier this month City, last season's FA Cup winners, posted a record-breaking £194.9million loss, with wage costs spiralling to £174million - all bankrolled by Sheikh Mansour.

Elsewhere, the Court of Arbitration for Sport are set to hear a dispute between UEFA and Swiss club FC Sion, who responded to their exclusion from the Europa League by mounting a civil action.

Wenger believes such litigation and the collective power of the top clubs could eventually soften the stance of the European governing body towards how they implement the new financial restrictions.

"Will they [UEFA] have the legal power to force it through? I question it," said the Arsenal manager, whose side will look to secure safe passage through to the knockout stages of the Champions League with victory over Borussia Dortmund at Emirates Stadium tomorrow night.

"In other countries, you have as well Paris St Germain, Malaga. Once they represent a force together, it will be difficult to fight against."

The Gunners boss continued: "When I see the numbers announced by Manchester City, do you really think it will work in 2013? I cannot see it when the wage bill is bigger than the turnover. Frankly, that cannot happen in one year.

"Secondly, with what happened with Sion challenging UEFA, they have lost a lot of power. There is also the statement of [European Club Association chairman Karl-Heinz] Rummenigge against UEFA, representing the hundred clubs who are in there.

"We live in a world where any decision made is challenged.

"Europe has a little bit created that and we see how far Europe has gone. The authority of the legal affairs is challengeable everywhere."

Arsenal head into tomorrow's European tie having recorded a fifth straight Barclays Premier League win when they beat Norwich 2-1 at Carrow Road on Saturday to move within striking distance of the top four.

It is some turnaround in fortunes following an appalling start to the season, which saw the Gunners slump to 17th.

With Chelsea struggling for consistency, Tottenham have found themselves London's leading challengers to the Manchester duo.

Arsenal midfielder Jack Wilshere, currently out injured, has vowed to donate £3,000 to charity should the Gunners finish behind their north-London rivals in May.

While Wenger agrees with Spurs manager Harry Redknapp that, mathematically at least, it is not impossible for them - or indeed half-a-dozen sides - to eventually win the league, the Arsenal manager wants his squad to focus on themselves rather than any bragging rights.

"At the moment Spurs are fighting for the top four like we do. At the end we can both be in the top four, and we will try everything possible to be in front of them, but that is not enough for me," said Wenger, whose side were beaten 2-1 at White Hart Lane in October.

"With or without Tottenham what we want is to be in the top four, that is our target."

Wenger added: "It is a long way to go. I don't believe we have to focus on spurs, we have to focus on us improving.

"It is important that we don't get confused about what we want to achieve. What we want to do is improve an play better.

"We have come from far. You could see from the game at Chelsea has helped the team to improve.

"Our consistency has helped the team improve, and qualifying from the Champions League group will give us a lift again."