Wenger and his side have come under increasing pressure after a poor start to the Premier League season and have seen pivotal players Cesc Fabregas and Samir Nasri leave for Barcelona and Manchester City respectively in recent days.

However, they finally have something to smile about after goals from Robin van Persie and Theo Walcott, as well as Wojciech Szczesny's stunning penalty save from Antonio Di Natale, saw them through a tricky second qualifying leg and into Thursday's draw.

"We have been a little bit under pressure and for us not to play the Champions League and with the players who left, that pressure would've increased, understandably," said Wenger.

"Since the beginning of the season, I feel a very strong, determined attitude within the team."

And Wenger had a word for those who had questioned whether his side could compete this campaign, pointing out they have now qualified to play in Europe's top competition for 14 consecutive seasons.

"We live in a society where everybody has an opinion on everything," said the Frenchman.

"I'm like somebody who flies a plane for 30 years and I have to accept that somebody can come into the cockpit and thinks he can fly the plane better than I do.

"But that's part of our job and we have to accept that."

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