Arsenal ... 2 Bolton Wanderers ... 1 Take a guess at how many goals Thierry Henry has scored in 14 Champions League away games for Arsenal. Five, perhaps? The answer is one. So when the striker urged his team-mates to be aggressive at PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday it was with a fair understanding of where things have gone wrong.
Poor form on the road has been Arsenal's downfall in Europe, Henry's measly return strikingly different from his 11 goals in 16 home Champions League matches. This week's trip is a key test for a team keen to prove they are the continent's finest.
Since the Frenchman found the net in a 1-0 win at Lyon 19 months ago, Arsenal have suffered seven defeats and mustered one draw on their European travels. Arsene Wenger complained last season that his team were playing too passively, with "the handbrake" on. Henry would like to see the accelerator firmly pressed down.
Arsenal have scored in 46 straight top-flight matches playing without inhibition, and Henry wants the same in Holland.
"When you go away you have to try and win," he stressed. "Look at Valencia. We didn't play poorly in that game but we lost to a late goal, and when you lose and you haven't tried to win it hurts."
What should help this week is that Dennis Bergkamp is travelling by road to Eindhoven and will almost certainly make his first away appearance in Europe since the UEFA Cup final in Copenhagen in May 2000.
Despite scoring a dramatic winner on Saturday, Nwankwo Kanu had a poor match which strengthened the logic of travelling with Bergkamp, who started on the bench. The Nigerian ended as a hero but the fans had vented their frustration at him, particularly in the first half.
Much as Arsenal's desire was to be admired in overcoming an awkward Bolton, they will have to improve for Wednesday. The usual sharpness and pace was lacking from their passing, with Gilberto Silva looking tired.
The return of Patrick Vieira is good news for Wenger but more evidence of David Seaman's decline less so. He failed to shift his feet fast enough to stop a Gareth Farrelly cross drifting over his head for an equaliser, bringing reminders of Ronaldinho's goal for Brazil and Ali Benarbia's shot against the bar for Manchester City.
Bolton deserve credit for making life tough. They pulled bodies back and their manager Sam Allardyce saw the 81st-minute dismissal of Ivan Campo as decisive. Campo had played well shielding the defence but was sent off for stupidly throwing the ball away, having earlier been cautioned for dissent. Henry, having missed a penalty, put Arsenal ahead from Freddie Ljungberg's pass and his knock-down enabled Kanu to prod the winner.
Guardian Service
ARSENAL: Seaman, Lauren (Toure 84), Campbell, Keown, Cole, Ljungberg (Bergkamp 68), Silva, Parlour, Wiltord (Jeffers 68), Kanu, Henry. Subs not used: Luzhny, Shaaban. Booked: Keown. Goals: Henry 26, Kanu 90.
BOLTON: Jaaskelainen, Whitlow, Bergsson, Campo, Barness, Farrelly, Frandsen, Charlton, Djorkaeff (Tofting 81), Dean Holdsworth (Okocha 66), Pedersen (Ricketts 48). Subs not used: Livesey, Poole. Sent Off: Campo (80). Booked: Campo, Dean Holdsworth, Jaaskelainen. Goals: Farrelly 47.
Referee: D Pugh (Merseyside).
