ARSENE WENGER has said Andre Villas-Boas’s mission to instil a new philosophy at Chelsea hinges on his senior players buying into the manager’s vision.

Asked how difficult it will be for Villas-Boas to persuade John Terry and his team-mates to accept the Portuguese’s vision, Wenger said: “It is not easy, no. But in our job you can only survive if you do how you feel. After, you can get it through or not. That is what I did. So for me it was not too difficult. I was just convinced of what I wanted and I was fortunate to face intelligent players.

“I had Steve Bould, Tony Adams, Nigel Winterburn, Lee Dixon, Martin Keown – they are all intelligent people. And they thought: ‘Maybe this guy is completely mad but we will try and it can work – you never know.’ ”

Wenger said the key to a transformation in philosophy is to get the senior players on board: “It is hard. But I believe as well a manager, when he has strong players in the squad and they share what he thinks, it makes him stronger. If they go against, it is difficult.”

Villas-Boas is attempting to make Chelsea more fluid and attractive and Wenger said of the Portuguese and the challenge facing him: “I have big sympathy for him. I like him personally. I think he is intelligent, competent.”

Wenger added that Villas-Boas requires time, as the Frenchman did when he first walked into Arsenal. “It’s down basically to the club to make the right decision,” he said.

Wenger also appeared to rule out recruiting any players during next month’s transfer window. “At the moment I do nothing in January,” he said. “I have a big squad but, if you knock at my door and say, ‘I have a fantastic player for you’, I will not turn it down.”

Arsenal visit Wigan Athletic today, having drawn and lost there in the last two seasons. He added: “This year we have no choice - we want to win to take the three points tomorrow.” Abou Diaby will miss out due to a muscular injury.