Wed 4th Nov - Estadio Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan
By James Dall Last updated: 17th September 2007
Wenger: Rates Sevilla
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.
Live on Sky Sports Xtra Wednesday 19th September 7.45pm
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.
"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."

La Liga goals - Week eight
Stuttgart 1-3 Sevilla
La Liga goals - Week six
Rangers 2-0 Seville - Smith
La Liga goals - Week Three
Sevilla 2-0 Unirea Urziceni - Highlights
La Liga goals - Week Two
Free Football League highlights
| Time | Fixture |
|---|---|
| Sunday 8th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 20:00 | Sevilla vs Villarreal |
| Tuesday 10th November | |
| Spanish Copa del Rey | |
| 19:00 | Sevilla vs Ciudad de Lorqui |
| Sunday 22nd November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Tenerife vs Sevilla |
| Tuesday 24th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Unirea Urziceni vs Sevilla |
| Sunday 29th November | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Malaga |
| Sunday 6th December | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Valladolid |
| Wednesday 9th December | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| 19:45 | Sevilla vs Rangers |
| Sunday 13th December | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sporting Gijon vs Sevilla |
| Sunday 20th December | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Getafe |
| Sunday 3rd January | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Atletico Madrid vs Sevilla |
| Sunday 10th January | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Racing Santander |
| Sunday 17th January | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Barcelona vs Sevilla |
| Sunday 24th January | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Almeria |
| Sunday 31st January | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Valencia |
| Sunday 7th February | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Real Zaragoza vs Sevilla |
| Sunday 14th February | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| 16:00 | Sevilla vs Osasuna |
| Time | Result |
|---|---|
| Wednesday 4th November | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Sevilla 1 - 1 VfB Stuttgart | |
| Saturday 31st October | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Xerez 0 - 2 Sevilla | |
| Tuesday 27th October | |
| Spanish Copa del Rey | |
| Ciudad de Lorqui 2 - 4 Sevilla | |
| Saturday 24th October | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Sevilla 0 - 0 Espanyol | |
| Tuesday 20th October | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| VfB Stuttgart 1 - 3 Sevilla | |
| Saturday 17th October | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Deportivo La Coruna 1 - 0 Sevilla | |
| Sunday 4th October | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Sevilla 2 - 1 Real Madrid | |
| Tuesday 29th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Rangers 1 - 4 Sevilla | |
| Saturday 26th September | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Athletic Bilbao 0 - 4 Sevilla | |
| Tuesday 22nd September | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Sevilla 2 - 0 Mallorca | |
| Saturday 19th September | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Osasuna 0 - 2 Sevilla | |
| Wednesday 16th September | |
| UEFA Champions League | |
| Sevilla 2 - 0 Unirea Urziceni | |
| Saturday 12th September | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Sevilla 4 - 1 Real Zaragoza | |
| Sunday 30th August | |
| Spanish Primera Liga | |
| Valencia 2 - 0 Sevilla | |
| Sunday 26th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Sevilla 0 - 0 Seongnam Chunma | |
| Friday 24th July | |
| Friendly Match | |
| Sevilla 1 - 2 Juventus | |
| Pos | Team | P | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Barcelona | 10 | 26 |
| 2 | Real Madrid | 10 | 25 |
| 3 | Sevilla | 9 | 19 |
| 4 | Deportivo La Coruna | 10 | 19 |
| 5 | Valencia | 9 | 18 |
Sunderland fan Lucinda Gittins was strutting her stuff in the Soccer AM studios this week.
Guillem Balague wonders if Atletico Madrid's new coach can mastermind a shock win over Real.
Quique Sanchez Flores told Revista he is relishing the job on his hands at Atletico Madrid.
Sevilla booked their place in the knockout phase despite only drawing 1-1 with Stuttgart at the Ramon Sanchez Pizjuan.
Arsenal virtually booked their place in the last 16 of the Champions League, while Liverpool and Rangers' hopes hang in the balance.
Sevilla coach Manuel Jimenez admits he is worried about Chelsea's reported interest in his star striker Luis Fabiano.
Guillem Balague wonders if Atletico Madrid's new coach can mastermind a shock win over Real.
Sevilla can book a place in the knockout phase of the Champions League when Stuttgart visit on Wednesday.