Wenger warns of Sevilla quality

Frenchman believes his next opponents are 'one of the best sides in Europe'

By James Dall   Last updated: 17th September 2007

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Wenger: Rates Sevilla

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Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger rates Wednesday's UEFA Champions League opponents Sevilla as 'one of the best sides in Europe'.

Wenger's men have enjoyed a terrific start to the season and now take on a quality Spanish side who have won the Uefa Cup two seasons running.

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Sevilla moved into second place in La Liga at the weekend courtesy of a 4-1 win over Recreativo De Huelva, while Arsenal top the Premier League following their North London derby win.

The Group H match promises to be a mouth-watering encounter, and the French tactician is aware that Juande Ramos' side will provide an extremely tough test.

Decisive

"I know Sevilla very well and I think that they are one of the best sides in Europe," Wenger told uefa.com

"It is a match which, from the very start, will dictate the potential of the two sides.

"It is important for us to play well as we are at home and we will need to be very focused both to prove that we are good enough at this level and, more importantly, to put us in a good position to qualify."

Wenger, who led Arsenal to the Champions League final in 2005/2006, explained that currently he is focused on qualifying out of a testing group which also houses Slavia Prague and Steaua Bucharest.

"Our first expectation is to qualify from the group stage. Then you hope for a draw that will allow you to go as far as possible," he added.

"But I'm mainly hoping that we qualify from the group stage and that we play well because the quality of the competition improves year on year."