Arsenal manager Arsène Wenger confident his side can clinch Champions League place at expense of Tottenham It would effectively amount to a £40 million swing in revenue but that was the least of Wenger's concerns as he looked to extend a record which has become one of his most oft-quoted achievements. "What is at stake is a desire to stay at the top, to play top-level European football," he said. There is a difference between the Champions League and Europa League. The Champions League plays with the best teams in Europe. That is what we want to do. The financial consequences are big but that is not the most important thing for me. A matter of pride then? For me but first for my club, I want my club to be at the top and therefore of course it is a very important game. With £70 million lying in an Emirates Stadium strong room waiting to be spent, finishing fifth would not appear to represent a financial disaster for Arsenal. But that money has undoubtedly been earmarked for the kind of players who would help make Arsenal competitors for first place in the Premier League again, not fourth. "It's easier to attract the players - top, top, top players - if you play in Champions League," Wenger said. That's part of the rule of the market. But, anyway, we have a good team and we will attract one or two players that we want no matter what happens. One has already been lured to the club in the shape of Auxerre striker Yaya Sanogo, who Wenger confirmed was on the brink of signing what is said to be a four-year deal. Sanogo could be a potential steal if concerns over his fitness prove unfounded, following a double-leg break in 2009. Arsenal have to pay only compensation for the out-of-contract 20-year-old, who has scored nine goals in 11 appearances this season for his current Ligue 2 side and has impressed for France Under-21s. But Wenger will need more than potential to cut the 18-point gap to Manchester United next season, something more easily achieved were he to poach Wayne Rooney from the champions. The Frenchman was adamant on Friday Arsenal had made no approach to sign the striker but pointedly did not take the opportunity to deny whether he was interested in doing so. He also refused to be drawn on whether Arsenal could afford Rooney's reputed £250,000-a-week wages but provided a hint about how much of a challenge that might prove when he revealed he twice failed to sign David Beckham because of the now-retired midfielder's salary demands. Arsenal felt the devastating effect of losing their own talisman to United when Robin van Persie left last summer but they eventually found a way to cope, overhauling a seven-point gap to Spurs. "It's a big comeback," said Wenger, who refused to bite when reminded Tottenham manager Andre Villas-Boas had declared Arsenal were in a "negative spiral" after their March derby defeat. Wenger insisted he never doubted his side would finish above Spurs and was relishing the pressure tomorrow would bring. He said: "Sometimes you think it would be nice to play without pressure but, after, you think let's get it back because it's so boring. Mikel Arteta (calf) is almost certain to miss out but Jack Wilshere could feature ahead of his ankle operation.