ARSENE WENGER believes he faces the toughest run of fixtures during his 13 years at Arsenal in the next two weeks.

The first of the four fixtures that will go a long way to defining the Gunners' season arrives tonight, at Aston Villa. The second is a home clash against current Premier League leaders and defending champions Manchester Untied at Emirates Stadium. A trip to Stamford Bridge to face title favourites Chelsea follows and a home game against Liverpool rounds off the tough series of matches.

Wenger admitted that his side face a tough task, but he knows that a strong run in these fixtures will put his team in great stead for a first league title in six years.

“I have never known a run of four League games as significant as these in all my time here,” he said ahead of the trip to Villa Park. “Never. Not four on the trot.

“It is a real coincidence that we have games – one after the other – that are all decisive.

“If we win them all we are in a very strong position for sure, so let's start with the first one and ignore all the others for now.

“It is a great opportunity to send a message to the rest of the Premier League. We want to take it and I am very confident that we are in a good position. So let's go for it.”

Wenger will have the luxury of welcoming Nicklas Bendtner back to the match squad after the Danish striker returned to full fitness following three months on the sidelines with a groin injury. Samir Nasri will also be included on the bench, while the first-choice back four of Bacary Sagna, William Gallas, Thomas Vermaelen and Gael Clichy will all be installed once more after being rested against Stoke on Sunday.