In the last few years it looks to me that Arsenal have always seemed to play with more freedom in away games than they do at the Emirates. Personally I thought it was because the players were under more pressure to win in front of the home crowd, but today Arsene Wenger has revealed that he actively tells his scouts to check out how their targets play in away games before he will even consider making a bid for them.
Le Prof revealed on Arsenal.com: “You could say it’s linked more to bravery – your character is more tested away from home,”
“At home you feel the players are a bit more protected.
“But what I say to my scouts is, ‘Watch this player for me, but watch him in an away game.’ You want to know how he behaves away from home because usually at home you will be all right.
“If a scout comes to me and says he has found a good player, I ask where he saw him. If it was at home, I tell them to go and watch them away as well because it’s a better test of their character, their bravery and their desire.
“Once a player is good away from home, you can say you will consider him.”
So there you have it! We have won three out of our four away games this season, and the only loss was the debacle at Chelsea where we were robbed of any chance. Also think back to Monaco last year (lost at home, won away), and I believe the same thing has happened aganst Bayern Munich and Dortmund in recent times. Now we know the real reason!