Champions League: Arsenal know they must improve their away form to become serious Champions League contenders and Arsene Wenger's determination to start with a bang has been shown by more than Dennis Bergkamp's presence here.
By asking the striker to travel to his homeland Wenger has made one significant alteration and the manager hopes a new pre-match routine will bring a second psychological boost.
Whereas in the past Arsenal have taken a morning flight out of Luton the day before a European game and practised at their opponents' stadium in the evening, Wenger has a different plan. For this match at PSV Eindhoven and at least the rest of the first group stage, his squad will have a morning session at home, fly out later and spend the evening at leisure.
Wenger appears to hope that, by staying as close as possible to the day-to-day routine which has served Arsenal so well domestically and on European nights at Highbury, he will break a miserable sequence of results. Even allowing for the quality of Champions League opponents, it is bizarre that Arsenal lost five and drew one of six matches in Europe last season while going unbeaten away in the Premiership.
Wenger believes much of the problem lies in the mind and also noted that training at the opposition's ground gives them a chance to spy.
Not that Arsenal's results since winning at Lyon 19 months ago are down to espionage.
They have often failed to seize the initiative and Bergkamp's first away appearance in this tournament since 1999 is welcome; the club have not lost in his three away games and he will start.
"Dennis has the attitude you want in a player," Wenger said. "He has been through difficult times, but I truly believe he loves the club.
"Even though his position was under threat in the past, he kept on fighting and wanted to stay. He has a lot of respect from everyone for that. Age affects everybody, but much more so when you rely on physical strength. When you rely on technical ability and vision, it affects you much later."
PSV EINDHOVEN (probable, 4-4-2): Waterreus; Bogelund, Ooijer, Hofland, Heintze; Rommedahl, Van Bommel, Vogel, Bouma; Bruggink, Kezman.
ARSENAL (probable, 4-4-2): Seaman; Lauren, Keown, Campbell, Cole; Wiltord, Gilberto Silva, Vieira, Ljungberg; Bergkamp, Henry.
Guardian Service
