Anyone expecting to find Arsenal in a state of depression after Saturday's 3-0 home defeat by Middlesbrough is in for a shock. The championship may have slipped away, but Arsene Wenger reminded his players last night that this season could end with unprecedented success.

An FA Cup final against Liverpool is booked for May 12th and a first European Cup final appearance will be two games off if Arsenal hold the 2-1 lead they bring here. Dragging the team off the beach is the least of Wenger's worries.

"You don't need to motivate players for a game like this," said the Frenchman, who knows Leeds or Deportivo La Coruna await the winners. "You need to give belief to the players that they can do it. If you are not motivated at this level you should change your job."

Arsenal, aware they will go out on away goals if they lose 10, will play their usual positive game against a side unbeaten in 16 Champions League matches in the Mestalla stadium. "If we spend 90 minutes in our box we have no chance," Wenger admitted.

He will draw hope from the knowledge that Valencia have lost their previous two league games here and four of their last five matches. Yet the manager realises much will depend on his experienced defenders.

Since October's 1-1 draw at Lazio, Arsenal have tended to lose away to quality opposition - heavily at Liverpool, Manchester United and Spartak Moscow. A display more in line with February's 1-0 win at Lyon is required.

"I need the top defenders at the top level," said Wenger who, with Silvinho injured, will play Ashley Cole at left back.

"We know that in such a game we will need a big save from David Seaman and a big tackle from [Martin] Keown and [Tony] Adams. We know that without that we haven't got a chance.

"So often we have seemed to be on the right track this season and then suddenly we have had a disappointing result. There have been times when we have shown our character and times when we have just not performed at all. It is hard to know why."

Valencia, last season's beaten finalists, give a late test to the left midfielder Vicente. "I don't want the team to commit suicide in the first 20 minutes," said their coach Hector Cuper. "We will play with our hearts but we must also use our heads."

VALENCIA (possible): Canizares; Angloma, Ayala, Pellegrino, Carboni; Mendieta, Baraja, Vicente/Angulo; Aimar; Carew, Sanchez.

ARSENAL (possible): Seaman; Dixon, Keown, Adams, Cole; Pires, Parlour, Vieira, Ljungberg; Kanu, Henry.