Away form concerns Wenger

After their notable 3-1 defeat of Juventus FC, Arsenal FC coach Arsène Wenger was keen to stress that his side must learn to perform away from home in the manner they do at Highbury stadium.

Home record
Arsenal are now undefeated in 16 games at their London home, but are unable to win on their travels. It will certainly be the undoing of them unless they can break the hoodoo.

Credit to Ljungberg
Wenger said: “The team is getting better and better. It was a shaky start but we showed brilliance and resilience. It was a great victory for the club. Freddie [Ljungberg] was unbelievable and showed amazing commitment, as did Thierry [Henry]. We now need to put in these sort of performances away from home.”

Taylor unfazed
Juventus’s goal was credited to David Trezeguet originally, but UEFA later revised that opinion in the light of television replays to score it as an own goal from young Arsenal goalkeeper Stuart Taylor. But Wenger had nothing but praise for his third-choice stopper, saying: “Stuart Taylor kept us in the game.” It was certainly true, as had the youngster not flung himself to his left in the early stages of the tie to turn an Alessandro del Piero attempt around the post, the game would have had an entirely different complexion. Taylor himself said afterwards: “I can’t blame myself, it was a freak goal but that’s football.”

Ljungberg overjoyed
Arsenal’s two-goal hero Fredrik Ljungberg was overjoyed after his performance. The Swedish international is in a rich vein of form at the moment and is striking fear into defenders around the world. He said: “It’s always good to score two goals. I’ve got the confidence to play at the minute and I feel I can do better.”

Lippi unhappy
Marcello Lippi was clearly unhappy with the result as he faced reporters after the game and made little comment before leaving the press room. His primary concern was that the team had had three games in six days, including a rearranged Champions League tie against Bayer 04 Leverkusen. Lippi said: “The team was tired. We were unlucky. It was a good game against an excellent team. 2-0 at half-time was not a just scoreline. Ljungberg and Henry played well and Henry, in particular expressed himself well, but Arsenal did not overrun us.” Neutrals may disagree with that final opinion.

Group D finely poised
There is all to play for now in Group D with all four sides resting on three points ahead of the winter break. Juventus lead the group on goal difference, but they will not be feeling too comfortable in a group that is shaping up to be very close indeed. Hostilities resume in February.