Arsène Wenger says Arsenal's next four matches represent the most intense and meaningful period of his Premier League career but, as the team prepare to kick off the sequence at Aston Villa tonight, the manager believes that they are set fair to make a grand statement about their title-winning chances.

Arsenal will go on to play Manchester United, Chelsea and Liverpool in a spell which has been billed as make-or-break for their prospects of a first championship since 2003-04 and, having hit form and broken down a major psychological barrier with the come-from-behind victory at Anfield last month, Wenger is bullish. Since the 3-0 home defeat to Chelsea on 29 November, his team have taken 23 points from an available 27.

"I have never known a run of four league games as significant as these," he said. "I believe we are in a strong position [despite] having lost at Manchester City, at Manchester United and against Chelsea at home, so you cannot say it is a make-or-break because in this league, a lot can happen. But if we win these games, then we can really have a big hope. It is a great opportunity to send a message to the rest of the Premier League. We want to take it and I am very confident that we are in a good position."

Wenger highlighted the importance of the 2-1 away win against Liverpool, when a 1-0 deficit was overhauled following some choice words from him at half-time. "It was a massive turning point and we've since come from behind in many games. It shows immense mental strength to come back. Before Liverpool, we had not won the big games. Even if we felt we should have won, we didn't and it was in the head of the players. But we did it at Liverpool, we beat Villa as well [at home, two weeks later] and we overcame something in our head."

Wenger said "we know we can beat Villa and they know it as well, don't worry" and, ahead of the trip to a happy hunting ground – Arsenal have won five and drawn five of their previous 10 Villa Park fixtures – the Frenchman was cheered by news from his injury list. Nicklas Bendtner is expected to return to the subs' bench, having not played since 31 October because of groin trouble, and Wenger said this meant he would not sign a striker before the closure of the transfer window. Bendtner has scored only three goals this season but Wenger's faith in him is total.

Samir Nasri, too, is also expected to be named as a substitute.