Celtic 0 Arsenal 2:Celtic have been left with a mammoth task to qualify for the Champions League proper after a cruel deflection and a Gary Caldwell own goal consigned them to a 2-0 home defeat to Arsenal. The Glasgow club will now have to score at least two without reply at the Emirates next week to stand any chance of making it into Europe's top tier this season but judging by tonight's showing they won't be causing the Gunners defence many problems in London.
The homeside were typically energetic and never lacked the will to compete but there was an obvious gulf in class between them and Arsene Wenger’s side, even if it did require two strokes of good fortune for the Premier League side to emerge triumphant.
Only Barcelona and Dinamo Moscow, in the previous round, had beaten Celtic in the previous 36 European matches at Parkhead but Arsene Wenger's side enjoyed a comfortable second half to leave a commanding position.
The Gunners were more comfortable in possession from the start, readily finding space in front of Celtic's back four.
Celtic looked like they might survive until half-time but luck was against them after Caldwell was penalised for a foul on Cesc Fabregas 30 yards out.
The free-kick was rolled short to the Spaniard, whose 30-yard drive bounced off the back of Gallas and spun away from the wrong-footed Artur Boruc in the Celtic goal.
The game almost drifted beyond Celtic within a minute of the restart after Landry N'Guemo miscontrolled a simple ball in the centre circle.
Andriy Arshavin carried the ball to the edge of the penalty box before slipping the ball outside to Robin van Persie but the Dutchman shot past the far post.
Denilson soon curled just wide from 20 yards following another Arshavin run while Fabregas dragged a left-footed shot just wide from a similar distance after Gallas had easily won a 50-50 challenge with Donati.
Arsenal's second arrived when Abou Diaby replaced Arshavin and immediately burst forward before shifting the ball to Gael Clichy. The Frenchman fired in a low cross that was turned home by the outstretched boot of Caldwell.
