Arsene Wenger believes Arsenal's daunting run of games against Liverpool and Manchester United represents the most severe examination of his managerial career.

The Gunners square up to the Merseysiders in the first leg of their Champions League quarter-final tomorrow in the opening instalment of a sequence which will make or break their season.

Wenger's team meet Liverpool again in the Premier League on Saturday and then travel to Manchester United the following Sunday in a game they must win to keep alive their title hopes.

The second leg of his European battle with Rafael Benitez is sandwiched in between those matches but Wenger is relishing the task ahead.

The Arsenal manager said: "It will be the highest challenge of my career. The next few days will define our season because I strongly believe that we are in the championship race.

"This next period is vital and the impact of the first game of that sequence is also vital because it will set the tone for the rest. But we believe we can beat anybody in any competition - it doesn't matter if it is Liverpool or anyone else. It is true we had a little dip recently but the win at Bolton last Saturday did us a lot of good. When you play well but don't win the confidence suffers so it was important that we got the confidence back."

Liverpool have been boosted by the goalscoring form of striker Fernando Torres, but it is Steven Gerrard who worries Kolo Toure. The Arsenal defender said: "Torres is not the only concern because Gerrard is really good. If we can stop him, we can stop Liverpool. That could make the difference because they have been doing very well together."

Wenger also dismissed speculation that Juventus are closing in on a deal for midfielder Mathieu Flamini.