Wenger focused on critical period

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes the next 10 days will be crucial in defining the Gunners' season.

His side play two legs of the Champions League quarter-final with Liverpool either side of a home Premier League game against the Reds on Saturday.

And with a visit to league leaders Manchester United to follow a week later, Wenger says the pressure is on.

"The next 10 days will be vital for our season. It will be the highest challenge for me," said the Frenchman.

News conference: Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

"I strongly believe we're in the race for the Championship and in Europe."

And Wenger is confident that Arsenal are approaching the key series of matches in the right frame of mind, following their remarkable victory at Bolton last week, when they hit back from 2-0 down to win 3-2 with 10 men.

"When you are two down, with 10 men, and you haven't won for five games and you ask the team to win the game, they must have some special belief and mental strength to go and do it," he said.

"What I have learned is that when our backs are to the wall, they have extraordinary resources."

However, the Frenchman insists he is expecting a different style of match when his side face Liverpool in Europe, saying: "Liverpool will make it tight and play on the break more than they do in the championship. Europe is all about being in a good shape on the day.

"There are always tactics involved, but the key is the form and spirit of the team."

We have shown we have the quality to stop them but it not about them it's about us Kolo Toure

Meanwhile, defender Kolo Toure has warned his team-mates that Steven Gerrard - and not in-form striker Fernando Torres - is the key to Liverpool this campaign.

"Fernando's a good player, he's done well in Spain and is doing really well in England," he said.

"But they also have Gerrard who is really good. If you can stop him you can stop the team. If they don't have a really good Gerrard the game will be a lot easier for us.

"We have shown we have the quality to stop them but it not about them, it's about us. The team who wants it more will win.

"We know we can beat any team if we are on top of our game."