Arsene Wenger yesterday invited headline writers to depict Arsenal's away form as a "crisis", though he prefers the phrase "deficit of away results".
As he discussed Arsenal's travails on their Premiership travels Wenger applied the sort of spin that would make front-bench politicians nod in admiration, but he did not seek to hide from the underlying problem.
Though Arsenal have won all seven of their Premiership games at Highbury, the 2-0 defeat at Bolton on Saturday represented their fourth defeat from the seven away from home. "If you want us to have an absolute crisis we'll take it," said Wenger. "But it is a deficit in results away from home; that is how I call it."
Wenger does not believe Arsenal have grown craven. He points to the historical success the FA Cup holders have enjoyed on their away trips and insists that the Watford Gap does not suddenly represent a psychological barrier.
"Well I don't agree we're going soft (away from home) for one simple reason," Wenger said. "We were unbeaten away in two seasons (from three); and we played some games in the north then, you know.
"Every game we lose, people question the leadership of (the captain) Thierry Henry or somebody else. That's what we have to take on the chin. As a unit I feel we have to add something to our game from what we had at Bolton but not lose our qualities. That's what will be my job."
Arsenal start tonight's match against Ajax secure in the knowledge that whatever the result, their five Champions League wins have already yielded passage to the knockout phase as Group B winners.
"We have the needed experience now, but it wasn't unrealistic, with our potential, to think that we would finish top of our group," said Wenger.
"We've lost just two of the last 21 games in Europe. Both of those defeats have been at the decisive moment, but it looks like we have found the consistency in Europe."
Arsenal v Ajax Highbury, 7.45 On TV: Sky Sports Xtra
ARSENAL (probable, 4-4-2): Almunia; Eboue, Toure, Senderos, Lauren; Hleb, Flamini, Fabregas, Reyes; Van Persie, Henry.
AJAX (from, 4-4-2,): Stekelenberg; Trabelsi, Grygera, Heitinga, Emanuelson; Maduro, Lindenbergh, Galasek, Pienaar, Sneijder; Babel, Charisteas.
Referee: E Gonzalez (Sp)
