Football FanCast columnist Matt Reveley reflects on the ambition and belief of Arsene Wenger ahead of tonight's Champions League quarter final first leg, and wonders whether the journey has only just begun.

Four games that may decide a season and, according to Arsenal's professor, four matches that may define a career; "This will be the highest challenge for me" commented the Arsenal manager, who has been replaying the Champions League final defeat to Barcelona continuously in preparation for this season's quarter final with their English counterparts.

Wenger was bitterly disappointed with the 2006 final and it clearly shows as he spoke ahead of the visit of Liverpool this evening to the Guardian:

"I still think about the European Cup final against Barcelona, and I'm not the only one. I think Thierry Henry is still replaying the two chances he had in his mind too. But let's make it happen this year"

The last line clearly defining the Frenchman's determination to succeed this time around. Yet, the Arsenal coach is not intent on solely achieving European glory, not one for expressing strong emotions in the prelude to a match, the passion in his voice is even clear in black and white text.

"The next 12 days will define our season because I strongly believe that we are still in the championship race... You think I've been fighting since the first day of the season in the championship to finish second".

The fight-back against Bolton on Saturday will undoubtedly be part of Wenger's pre-match changing room chat as, despite the inferior opposition, the attributes shown in Lancashire may be vital over the next four matches.

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

And it is the Frenchman's belief self-belief and belief in his players that may well be the difference, in Europe and domestically.

"We know Liverpool have a great record in this competition but, on the day, it'll be about producing a performance. If we do - and I'm convinced we will - we can beat Liverpool, Milan or anybody in the world."

But despite Wenger's desperation for European glory, do these comments really portray a realistic outlook from the Arsenal coach?

Whilst acknowledging the prowess of Liverpool's Fernando Torres and Steven Gerrard before the trio of encounters with Rafa Benitez's men, Wenger understands the quality of the Premiership leaders, who efficiently punished AS Roma in Italy last night.

"Manchester United have the advantage, but they have a difficult schedule as well. It depends now on the last six games... (Manchester United) have six games to go and four of them are away from home. They must play against us and at Chelsea as well. It will also depend upon how committed teams are to play in every game. Some teams don't have a lot to go for - you could see that in Aston Villa, for example [last Saturday]."

No doubt commitment will not be short at the Emirates this evening in what promises to be a fascinating encounter. But can Arsene Wenger still dream of success on both fronts, or is the Premiership a bridge too far?

"We are on the train, and we want to stay on it." Will the next four games spell the end of journey, or perhaps just the end of the beginning?