Wenger insists faltering Arsenal can still do the double

The Arsenal manager appeared to be showing signs of strain at the weekend when he was pictured sinking to his haunches on the touchline and bellowing in frustration during the 1-1 draw against Liverpool.

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But, as he prepared to face the Anfield club again, in Tuesday's Champions League quarter-final return leg, he insisted his faltering side remained on course for an unlikely double, despite being six points behind Barclays Premier League leaders Manchester United and conceding an away goal to Liverpool in the Champions League first-leg draw.

Wenger said: 'I still believe we will finish as League champions. United's result at Middlesbrough was a boost for us. If they had won, instead of drawing, I would probably have been holding my hands up and saying it cannot be done.

'That result helped us a lot, and we will head for Old Trafford believing we will go on and win it.

'I know some people don't share that belief, and I don't deny we have had a dip. But football is strange sometimes, and I know we have the quality to win our next five games and take the title.

'I'm just as confident we can go all the way in the Champions League. We know we need to play well collectively, to allow our flair to come through, but I know there is enough quality in this team to do it.'

Emmanuel Adebayor admitted Arsenal would have to surpass their San Siro heroics against AC Milan to claim a semi-final place, saying: 'Maybe we will have to show even more spirit and resolve, because we are in for a big battle against very good players who will be lifted by their incredible crowd.'

Arsenal are facing the prospect of a third season without a trophy and Liverpool manager Rafa Benitez is convinced his side will prolong their agony.

He said: 'Arsenal know we are on a good run. You can see the mood among the players, but I have also warned them they must be careful. We are up against a team who are capable of an away goal. But, when I look in the players' eyes, I see a belief that we can win.'

Defeat, however, would leave Benitez without silverware for a second successive season, but he was in defiant mood as he talked of a competitive edge that even extends to board games with daughters Claudia and Agnetha.

'I am under pressure, as well as Wenger, but nobody should make any judgments on one game,' he said. 'You can see we are heading in the right direction.

'I won't settle for any less (than victory). I have always had that mentality. Even as a child, I always hated losing at anything, chess or whatever.

'It is the same now, even at home. Just ask my wife. She says I never let the children win at anything. OK, sometimes I go easy on the younger one, but not the other. She is old enough and only wins on merit.

'Every day, I analyse small details with the players to try to make sure they improve. The other day, I gave each player a DVD, showing their negatives and positives. It might be a goal conceded from a corner or some other thing that has gone wrong. I want them to go home and study it and learn, so it doesn't happen again.'

Arsenal's Czech winger Tomas Rosicky may miss the European Championship Finals because of a knee injury.