Ajax v Arsenal On TV: TV3, ITV 2 (7.45)Arsene Wenger will hardly be happy if his players lose at Ajax tonight having thrilled the crowd. But the Frenchman emphasised yesterday that he wants to go down in history at Arsenal as a manager whose teams not only won trophies but performed with style.

Wenger could hardly have chosen a more appropriate city than the home of Ajax to set out such a vision. He made it plain he would not sacrifice his principles to grind his way to a Champions League success. And though he stressed that no team could call themselves great without first dominating their domestic championship, there is no question this game means a lot to the manager and his squad.

Defeat would not strike a fatal blow to Arsenal's hopes of winning a first Champions League but it would leave them in grave danger of going out before the quarter-finals for the second season in a row. Most likely they would then have to win their final match at Valencia to qualify, and no side would volunteer for that.

Yet on the eve of a high-pressure game, Wenger possessed the air of a man who senses his masterplan is coming together. Yes, he would love to win the European Cup in May, but the implication was that such good things come to those who wait. His aim is to establish a legacy which will be remembered for generations.

"Teams who remain in history are first teams who have a style of play,"

Wenger said. "It is not only because they won trophies but because they gave you something to watch and enjoy." He mentioned Real Madrid, Ajax and Milan as clubs who followed that path.

When reminded that all three had lifted the European Cup, he said: "I think it's a natural consequence of it. The first quality of a team is the championship, because the best team wins the championship. The Champions League is the plus you can get."

Wenger said he would "love" his team to be "remembered as the first who won the European Cup for Arsenal." But success in the competition is not always tantamount to greatness in his mind. For him the Bayern Munich teams who have reached finals have not always been truly great. Substance is important to Wenger, but so too is style.

Wenger acknowledged that his players would have to "step up a level" from last Tuesday's meeting with Ajax but insisted he was "really confident" of victory. He said he was worried about the quality of the pitch but locals insisted it was in good condition. PROBABLE LINE-UPS

ARSENAL (4-4-2): Seaman; Lauren, Keown, Campbell, Cole; Wiltord, Gilberto Silva, Vieira, Pires; Bergkamp, Henry.

AJAX (4-1-3-2): Lobont; Trabelsi, Pasanen, Chivu, Van Damme; Galasek; De Jong, Pienaar, Maxwell; Van der Meyde, Ibrahimovic.

Referee: V Ivanov (Bulgaria)