2009-08-18: Celtic 0-2 Arsenal, Champions League Qualifier 4th Rnd Play-off (1st leg)

"I think we controlled the game but were lucky with the two goals. Their energy tonight was sensational. Defensively they did well and never gave up.

"We are in front after 90 (minutes) so let’s make sure we’re in front after 180."

Tony Mowbray bemoaned the nature of Arsenal’s goals but insisted his side can still reach the group stages.

"The nature of the goals was very disappointing. But Arsenal were very good on the night; exceptional with the ball but brilliant without the ball. It was a frustrating night."

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 them in a commanding position ahead of next week’s play-off second leg.

Although both sides enjoyed comfortable away wins in their opening league wins on Saturday, Celtic manager Tony Mowbray opted for radical alterations to his frontline while Arsenal were unchanged following their 6-1 win at Everton.

Mowbray dropped Scott McDonald and Marc-Antoine Fortune and played Aiden McGeady up front alongside Georgios Samaras.

Scott Brown came into right midfield and Caldwell returned after missing Saturday’s 3-1 win at Aberdeen.

Arsenal looked more comfortable in possession, finding space in front of Celtic’s back four. Andrey Arshavin was causing problems when he drifted in from his position on the left of Arsenal’s three-man attack, and Fabregas and Denilson were always looking to break forward from midfield.

It needed a last-ditch block by Caldwell on Robin van Persie to stop the Gunners profiting from one such move, with the offside flag raised before Arshavin fired home the rebound. However, Celtic had a good chance to hurt Arsenal on the counter-attack when Shaun Maloney released McGeady down the left after Van Persie’s free-kick was cleared. The Irish international rode one challenge and lofted the ball towards Brown but Thomas Vermaelen did enough to put the midfielder off.

Celtic tightened up in central midfield, although a slip by Massimo Donati allowed Arshavin the chance to run at the Celtic back four, with Boruc getting down comfortably to save his deflected effort.

Full-back Andreas Hinkel then created Celtic’s best chance of the half when he burst into the box and cut the ball back for Maloney. The Arsenal defence closed him down but the ball fell for Brown, whose low shot was well saved by Manuel Almunia.

Celtic looked like they would comfortably survive until half-time but luck was against them after Caldwell was penalised for a foul on 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 into the opposite corner.

The game almost drifted beyond Celtic within a minute of the restart after Landry N’Guemo miscontrolled a simple take in the centre circle.

Arshavin carried the ball to the edge of the penalty box before slipping the ball outside to Van Persie but the Dutchman shot past the far post.

McGeady had dropped deeper after the interval and Mowbray made a double switch in the 56th minute with McDonald and Fortune replacing Donati and Samaras. Celtic struggled to create chances but Gallas made another crucial interception when he cut out Fortune’s low cross as McDonald waited at the far post.

Abou Diaby replaced Arshavin and immediately played a key role in Arsenal’s second goal. The substitute burst forward and set up Gael Clichy for a low cross that was turned home by the outstretched boot of Caldwell.

Only McGeady looked capable of creating anything for Celtic and most of the final 20 minutes was played out in the middle third.

Celtic subs: McCourt for N’Guemo (76), McDonald for Donati (56), Fortune for Samaras (56).

Arsenal subs: Diaby for Arshavin (69).

Referee: Massimo Busacca (Switzerland).

© Irish Examiner, 2009. Thomas Crosbie Media, TCH

The Irish Examiner

Mowbray eyes early goal in London

BBC
Manager Tony Mowbray refused to admit Celtic's Champions League dream is over despite a qualifier defeat by Arsenal in Glasgow.

A William Gallas deflected goal and a Gary Caldwell own-goal means Celtic must overturn a 2-0 deficit in London.

"It's a big ask for us now but I think the secret is to go down there and try to score the first goal," said Mowbray.

"That would make them very nervous and edgy, but if they score first we aren't going to score four at the Emirates."

Celtic went into the game as underdogs against their English Premier League opponents.

But they matched Arsenal until minutes before half-time, when Cesc Fabregas's free-kick took a wicked deflection off Gallas on its way into the net.

Arsene Wenger's side upped the ante in the second 45, but again Celtic were undone by a stroke of misfortune when their captain Caldwell poked Gael Clichy's low cross past his own goalkeeper.

"Both goals were very difficult to take," said Mowbray.

"Arsenal are one of the best teams in the world and yet I can't remember them having a shot on goal in the first half.

"Then they get a free-kick 30 yards out, it hits Gallas on the back as he's trying to get out the way and goes in the bottom corner.

"If they have a 15-pass move and score you think 'wow'.

"They never did that, and didn't look like doing that to be fair. But we then again we didn't either."

Despite the manner in which his team were undone by the Gunners, Mowbray had mixed emotions about his players' performances.

"The bottom line is that on the night was we weren't good enough on the ball.

"I think they worked extremely hard to try and deny Arsenal opportunities – and I think they did that really well.

"Ultimately our passing to the forwards wasn't good enough from the back or the midfield."

Mowbray surprised many by employing Aiden McGeady as a forward along with Georgios Samaras, with his regular partnership of Scott McDonald and Marco-Antoine Fortune relegated to the bench.

And he singled out the Republic of Ireland international for praise.

"Aiden was up front because he can hold onto the ball," he said

"He was the one player on our side who showed he has genuine top quality that could match their quality players.

"And you've got to have people up front who can do that against these teams, because if you're constantly giving it back to them you see what they can do."

Celtic defender Danny Fox expressed disappointment at conceding two "freak" goals in the defeat.

"Arsenal had a lot of the play but we didn't play anywhere near as good as we can do as a football team," he added.

"We snuffed them out for the majority of the first half and conceding the deflected free-kick was a bit of a sucker punch to be honest.

"We've got to go down there and be as positive as we can."
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/teams/c/celtic/8205511.stm

Published: 2009/08/19 10:41:04 GMT

© BBC 2011

Celtic 0-2 Arsenal

By Colin Moffat

Arsenal enjoyed the rub of the green as they established a commanding Champions League play-off lead against Celtic.

A Cesc Fabregas free-kick on the stroke of half-time flew into the net off the back of William Gallas as the defender crouched to avoid the ball.

And midway through the second half Celtic skipper Gary Caldwell diverted a Gael Clichy cross into his own net.

The manner of the goals were harsh on the hosts, who faded after an energetic first half and posed little threat.

Celtic worked hard to contain Arsene Wenger's side but it was a largely comfortable evening for the Gunners back four.

And the win ensures they become the first English side in nearly 26 years to beat Celtic on their own ground. The last team to do so was Brian Clough's Nottingham Forest.

Arsenal, unchanged from the side that demolished Everton at the weekend, failed to find any passing rhythm early on as Celtic, starting with five across midfield, chased down every cause.

But once the visitors had gone in front the result seldom looked in doubt and Celtic's challenge rather fizzled out.

After a scrappy opening, Andrey Arshavin popped the ball into the net following a rare flowing move on 11 minutes but the Russian forward had strayed offside.

A promising Celtic break was thwarted by Thomas Vermaelen, with the new Gunners defender showing great pace and awareness to get back and force Scott Brown to skew wide after Aiden McGeady had picked out his team-mate rushing into the penalty area.

Robin van Persie was inches away from gathering a lofted pass over the top from Arsenal skipper Fabregas and the scurrying Arshavin had the sting taken out of his shot by defender Glenn Loovens, allowing Artur Boruc to make a simple save.

Celtic continued to press and a drilled effort from Brown was smothered by Manuel Almunia as it skidded through the legs of lone striker Georgios Samaras, who was blocking the Arsenal keeper's field of vision.

Just as a whirlwind first half looked destined to end goalless, the visitors took the lead thanks to a large slice of fortune.

Fabregas rifled in a free-kick from 25 yards and the ball deflected off the back of Gallas and spun into the bottom corner of the net, with Boruc wrong-footed.

With Celtic jittery in defence, Arsenal made a strong start to the second half and Denilson curled a shot narrowly wide before the visitors enjoyed another lucky break.

Shaun Maloney's free-kick into the penalty area was diverted on to the arm of Nicklas Bendtner but referee Massimo Busacca waved play on, much to the anguish of the vociferous home support.

Celtic introduced strikers Scott McDonald and Marc-Antoine Fortune for the final half hour and an important sliding block from Gallas prevented the substitutes from combining in front of goal.

With 20 minutes remaining, Arsenal stretched their lead and again it was unfortunate on the home side as Caldwell's outstretched leg diverted a low Clichy cross beyond Boruc.

It may have been an ugly finish but the sweet passing move involving substitute Abou Diaby and the galloping French full-back put the Celtic captain under pressure, with Bendtner waiting to pounce.

Boruc later made an unorthodox block to keep out a venomous strike from Fabregas as Arsenal found more room to exploit and played out the closing stages comfortably.

Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport1/hi/football/europe/8204043.stm

Published: 2009/08/18 20:38:36 GMT

© BBC 2011