Arsene Wenger is a learned man and it turns out that recently he’s been brushing up on the science behind home advantage and going a goal ahead early in matches.

Apparently, home advantage isn’t just a football myth designed to scare the opposition. Also, if you go ahead early, in the Champions League in particular, you have a higher chance of winning.

“When you look at the history of all these games, most are decided by the first goal,” Wenger said. “A new scientific study within the Champions League last year found that, more than ever, the team who scores first wins.

“Why? Because it puts the team in a very strong position to be able to counter-attack, and that is the easiest way to attack without opening yourself up.”

Everyone knows the term ’12th man’ when it comes to home crowds but it turns out it’s actually true.

Wenger continued, “Having said that, I think on a longer distance the current numbers about away games will be reversed. I recently read a scientific study that covered all types of sport and what came out was that home teams are still favourites to win games, and not because of the motivational factor of the players but purely because of the support of the crowd.

“In a variety of sports, they came to the scientific conclusion that the biggest advantage of the team that plays at home is the support of the crowd. That’s not my impression; it’s the result of a scientific study.

“They eliminated all the other factors that could come in. It was a simple conclusion – it’s the home support that gives the advantage of the team. This home support can also turn against the home team if you don’t start well and if you are 1-0 down, but it also shows that influence is very strong.”

Although these ‘findings’ may sound like common sense, it is interesting to know that there is truth behind the assumptions.

As far as Arsenal goes, it also explains our new game plan of attacking teams at pace early on so we can go ahead as soon as possible. Against Man United we went 3-0 up in 20 minutes and the Red Devils found it impossible to come back from.

It looks as if this will be a regular tactics from now on, especially in big games.