The Gunners have travelled to Holland for tomorrow's Champions League Group H clash against AZ Alkmaar without England forward Theo Walcott, who could be missing for up to a month after suffering knee ligament damage following a hefty challenge by Birmingham defender Liam Ridgewell during Saturday's Barclays Premier League win at Emirates Stadium.

The Gunners boss has reviewed the tackle again, which at the time was not penalised by referee Lee Probert, and accepts it is difficult to gauge true intent.

Yet while the Arsenal manager may have lambasted travelling Blues fans as "stupid" for chanting "there is only one Martin Taylor", in reference to the foul which left striker Eduardo with an horrific leg injury in February 2008, Wenger concedes such a physical approach, if applied correctly is an integral part of football.

"It is difficult to see any bad intention there, but still he went well through," said the Arsenal manager.

"I think in the Premier League, you let more go and it is important to let more go than anywhere else in Europe because it makes the games more attractive.

"But you need to keep it going so that everybody plays with the right intention and you do not feel that there is any malice there.

"To get a committed game everybody has to play fair."

Wenger, who recently became Arsenal's longest serving manager, added: "I like the commitment of the English game. I think the superiority of the English game is down to that.

"Players have the feeling they improve in England because there is more commitment and you do not want to take that out of the game."

Walcott was making his first start of the campaign against the Blues, having been sidelined by a back problem since August.

Wenger, though, feels the World Cup hopeful - troubled during last season by a shoulder injury which needed surgery - should soon be back to full strength.

"It will be three to four weeks, but we are hoping it could be shorter," said Wenger.

"A Grade One medial knee ligament injury is usually that long, but if it goes very well, it could be two weeks."

Wenger added: "Theo is a young boy.

"Sometimes you go through a period like that when you are at that age, where you are injured more.

"Your body settles and adapts. When you get over that, usually you have no problem anymore."

Czech winger Thomas Rosicky has also stayed in London nursing a minor knee problem, but full-back Gael Clichy has shaken off the ankle knock which saw him sit out the Birmingham game.

Arsenal are the leading scorers in the English top flight, netting a record 27 goals from the first eight matches.

Wenger, though, feels it is also his team's hard work when not in possession which has helped their progress.

"If we score goals, it is because we have the ball. To have the ball, you need to defend," he said.

"That is why I believe we have a good team ethic, a good working attitude together.

"We all play on the same wavelength, which is why everybody scores."

With two wins already in Group H, the first coming after trailing 2-0 at Standard Liege inside the opening five minutes, Arsenal - who have chalked up seven successive victories - could all but secure a place in the knockout stages tomorrow night.

AZ, now coached by Dutch legend Ronald Koeman, may have struggled for the consistency which secured last season's Eredivisie title, but they will defend a fine record of just one home defeat from 34 European ties.

Wenger, however, believes this young side can come of age in 2010, four years after he guided Thierry Henry's experienced Gunners to the Champions League final against Barcelona.

"I believe this team has a big future," declared the Arsenal manager, who celebrates his 60th birthday later this week.

"We have improved the belief and results.

"However, we know we have not won anything yet, it is all in front of us and that is what we want to show this season."