UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE - Arsenal 3 Celtic 1: ARSENE WENGER had spoken of the critical nature for Arsenal of a tie that could guarantee the riches of Champions League football. It proved to be money earned with little trouble over a 5-1 aggregate victory.
Any annoyance will lie in the injury to the substitute Aaron Ramsey that had the side completing the night with 10 men. Their opener here came through the skulduggery of Eduardo that secured a penalty, but Celtic, who barely made a chance in either game before Massimo Donati’s stoppage goal here with a splendid volley, will accept that they were really undone by excellence.
There were moments when it felt as if Arsenal’s superior technique might drain the morale from the opposition. It would, for instance, have been disturbing for the Celtic centre-half Glenn Loovens to find his opposite number William Gallas go streaming past him in an early run down the right.
In the ninth minute there was a good build-up on the left by Gael Clichy and Emmanuel Eboue that set up Nicklas Bendtner for a shot that was stopped by Artur Boruc. Eduardo, stretching, could not touch home the loose ball.
When the Croatia forward did give Arsenal the lead it was from a penalty that he had obtained through illicit means. His burst into the area had been sharp and skilful, but his supreme piece of technique was to pretend that Boruc had brought him down when there had been no contact.
The dive was good enough to convince the Spanish referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez. No crisis of confidence stopped Eduardo from sending Boruc the wrong way from the penalty spot. It would have been absurd to think Celtic had been undone by ill-luck over the course of the tie, but Arsenal, enjoying a deflected goal and an own goal to win 2-0 in Glasgow, had received good fortune they scarcely required.
They had still been conscientious about this match. That will have been connected with the financial implications but there was a resolve, too, not to allow Celtic encouragement.
Tony Mowbray’s side has good intentions even though the flaws are still unmistakable. There was an effort to attack when circumstances allowed, but Scott McDonald was a yard offside as he tucked in a Marc-Antoine Fortune cross in the 40th minute.
Arsenal, even with the captain Cesc Fabregas injured and Robin van Persie named among the substitutes, had much to offer. Those who are allowed to start seem to treat that opportunity as a prize to be relished.
This tie, too, had been worthy of Arsenal’s interest. While Celtic are far below their level, they had not been as feeble as Everton and Portsmouth, beaten 6-1 and 4-1 respectively by Arsenal in this Premier League campaign.
Mowbray’s perspective was instructive. The manager replaced his captain Gary Caldwell with Darren O’Dea for the second half.
Caldwell, booked earlier, could conceivably have picked up a knock by then, but his confidence has been dented in a run of misfortune that saw him put through his own net last week.
The second goal was composed of swift, quick-witted play. Clichy and Bendtner linked, with the Dane finding Eboue with a backheel. The midfielder then sidestepped Danny Fox and shot low beyond Boruc in the 53rd minute.
A lull was inevitable. Substitutions contributed to that, although motivations may have differed. McGeady, who had been cautioned, was withdrawn by Mowbray. Wenger, on the other hand, was adding to the education of the 18-year-old Ramsey when he sent the youngster on for Diaby.
Celtic’s sense of purpose had been exhausted and the great contrast between the teams was beyond concealment when substitute Arshavin linked with Ramsey before turning O’Dea to score the third goal in the 72nd minute.
Guardian Service
ARSENAL:Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue (Wilshere 72), Song Billong, Denilson, Diaby (Ramsey 61), Eduardo (Arshavin 71), Bendtner. Subs not used: Mannone, van Persie, Silvestre, Traore. Booked: Eboue, Denilson.
CELTIC:Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell (O'Dea 46), Loovens, Daniel Fox, Maloney (Flood 61), Donati, Scott Brown, McGeady (Naylor 61), McDonald, Fortune. Subs not used: Zaluska, Samaras, McCourt, Killen. Booked: Caldwell, McGeady, Scott Brown.
Referee:Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez (Spain)
