Villas-Boas, 34, was only appointed in the summer but has seen his position come in for severe scrutiny following a slump in form, which has left them outside the Barclays Premier League top four, in danger of not qualifying for the knockout stages of the Champions League and culminated in the midweek Carling Cup quarter-final defeat by Liverpool at Stamford Bridge.

Wenger may now be a fully paid-up member of the English football establishment, but the former Monaco and Grampus Eight manager knows from his own experiences that it did not happen overnight.

"I have big sympathy for Villas-Boas. I like him personally. I think he is intelligent, competent. You can only think that he will get it right," said Wenger, who transformed the Gunners' fortunes after his somewhat controversial appointment in September 1996.

"In our job you can only survive if you do what you feel. After, you can get it through or not. That is what I did, so for me it was not too difficult.

"I was just convinced of what I wanted and I was fortunate to face intelligent players.

"I had Steve Bould, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown - they are all intelligent people, and maybe they thought this guy is completely mad, but we will try and it can work'.

"It is hard, but I believe as well when a manager has strong players in the squad and they share what he thinks, it makes him stronger. If they go against (him), it is difficult."

Chelsea owner Roman Abramovich went all out to secure the services of the man who had guided Porto to Europa League success, paying 15million euros (£13.3million) in compensation to take the manager from the Portuguese club.

The Russian has been through several managers since the departure of Jose Mourinho, under whom Villas-Boas had worked as a coach.

Wenger accepts he has been fortunate to continue to have the backing of the Arsenal board for so long.

"It is basically down to the club to make the right decision," he said.

"There are two things that are very important inside the football club - to take a distance with the storm that you are facing and analyse whether the guy is competent, strong and capable to turn things around or not.

"That is not down to the manager, that is down to the people who decide at the club.

"That is where the big clubs make a difference. I feel fortunate to be in a club where they can be resistant to pressure."

Arsenal head to Wigan tomorrow looking to maintain the form which has seen them climb back to within touching distance of the top four.

Despite admitting the Gunners have become reliant on the goals of captain Robin van Persie, Wenger maintains he will not be looking to bring in reinforcements when the transfer window opens again.

"At the moment, I will do nothing in January," he said.

"I have a big squad, but if you knock at my door and say 'I have a fantastic player for you' I will not turn it down."

Marouane Chamakh and Gervinho are both set to be away at the African Nations Cup, possibly for up to six weeks.

Wenger, though, feels Arsenal have enough attacking options.

Wenger added: "If we have no injuries (to strikers), then we should get away with it because we have (Alex Oxlade-) Chamberlain, who can play there, Park (Ju-young), Andrey Arshavin and Van Persie.

"We still have offensive players, but we could be a bit short if we have an injury."