Wenger backs Chelsea to rule European stage

"Seeding teams is a possibility," said Wenger. "I don't think that the massive clubs can leave at an early stage like they have. The likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Barcelona are money-making for television as well. I don't think that the formula at the moment helps the best teams. It is a direct knock-out.

"You could see how little it was between Chelsea and Barcelona. Barcelona went out but it could easily have been Chelsea. It is a very spectacular formula at the moment but it is like a European FA Cup - but a very hard one.

"It is no longer like a championship, it's a real cup competition again. Maybe UEFA will use their ranking lists to influence the draw."

But the current system has thrown up eight teams who will contest a place in the semi-finals. Wenger is an admirer of Bayern Munich, the team that knocked out Arsenal, of Juventus and Olympique Lyon and he feels that Liverpool can be the surprise outsiders. "Nobody expects them to win it and they could be the joker team," he said. "Maybe they can raise their game when it is needed."

However, Wenger's idea of the winners come from the other side of London - Jose Mourinho's Chelsea. True, manager Mourinho has had the luxury of access to the billions of Roman Abramovich but he has spent the money well in Wenger's eyes.

"Chelsea have a very good chance of winning," said Wenger. "One reason is that there are big teams who are already out so you have to consider them. They have a tremendous depth of squad and at this time of the season the squad plays a big part. You are in the last two months and you usually have big players who can come back. From my own experience at Arsenal, when we have had that it gives you the final push."

Wenger is in no doubt who that player is - Arjen Robben. He has been out since the 1-0 Premiership win at Blackburn and is now close to fitness and will play a major part in Chelsea's finale to the season.

"With the players Chelsea have got and with Robben coming back, they have a good chance. They have shown all season that they are very solid defensively. They have players with good European experience and they look the favourites to win it. If you look at the players they can call on, it shows why they are the favourites.

"Didier Drogba has played in a European final with Marseille and Paulo Ferreira played in the Champions League for Porto last season when they won the competition as did Ricardo Carvalho. Then there is Petr Cech who has done well in goal, John Terry and Frank Lampard. You have to give them a big, big chance with the squad that they have."