Pick that out! Pires levels matters late on against Lazio (CliveBrunskill/Allsport)

The French winger, part of his country's World and European Championship-winning squad, told Soccernet that Arsene Wenger has the squad to lift the trophy.

Arsenal easily qualified for the second group stage of Europe's premier club tournament. Even a 3-0 humbling at the hands of Ukranian minnows Shakhtar Donetsk on Tuesday night could not prevent them from topping the group.

The Gunners beat Lazio to top spot in the group, and the Italian giants failed to overcome them in either of the group games.

It was, in fact, Pires who netted the late equaliser at the San Siro which gave Arsenal a fantastic draw and guaranteed their qualification from Group B.

'The most important thing this season is the Premiership. Our number one aim is certainly to win the League, but the Champions League is also very important,' Pires told Soccernet.

'It is the second time I have played in the Champions League after playing with Marseille last season.

'We have got a very good team at Arsenal and we can go a long way. We have a good chance of winning the tournament. I believe we have a good enough team to win it.

'We now just have to take each game as it comes and hope we can continue to progress.'

Arsenal played at Wembley in the last two Champions League tournaments, a tactic which backfired, with the opposition players motivated by playing underneath the Twin Towers.

The size of Wembley also removed the atmosphere which Highbury possesses. The fans were far from the pitch, where as at their home supporters are only yards from the play.

The return home to Highbury has helped Arsenal brush aside all comers this season, with a perfect home record in the first stage.

With a number of the big guns, such as the very disappointing Juventus and Barcelona, already eliminated the Gunners have a great chance of making the knock-out stages of the Champions League for the first time.