2009-08-26: Arsenal 3-1 Celtic, Champions League Qualifier 4th Rnd Play-off (2nd leg)

Match Pictures | Matches: 2009 – 2010 | 2009-2010 Pictures

Trivia

• Celtic out of European Cup before the Group Stages for first time since 2005-06 season
• Celtic 1-5 Arsenal in aggregate.
• David Murray (Chairman of Rangers) announced he was stepping down from his job as chairman of the Huns. Timed to ensure that it was not noticed due to the Celtic game.
• Donati's last game as announced next day that he was off to Bari.

Review

We never honestly thought we'd win this. Arsenal on many fronts (squad, financial, recent success etc) are way ahead of us. Managed by the great Arsene Wenger we were up against the wall. Yet we started well but then the moment that soured the match and sealed our misfortune happened. Much respected Eduardo turned into a villain and dived for a penalty which was given despite the reactions from the Celtic players. It was converted but shouldn't have been given, the player took a theatrical dive and it became the main focal point for the post-match comments.

That incident shouldn't take away from a fine Arsenal performance, and they were comfortably up 3-0 late in the game and could have been more. Celtic converted a chance in the last second but we were well out of the game.

The away support were a credit to Celtic and sang mightily and the atmosphere between the sets of fans was jovial. Enjoyable but disappointing to see us go out before the group stages. Onwards onto the Europa League……..

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Daily Telegraph

Short of borrowing Roman Abramovich’s yacht, David Niven’s wardrobe and Jenson Button’s girlfriend, Arsenal could not have arrived in Monaco in more style. In reaching this afternoon’s Champions League group stage draw in the land of Rolls-Royces and Rainiers, Arsène Wenger’s side were elegance personified, barring an ugly act of deception by Eduardo.

If Europe’s elite competition will be greatly enhanced by the often breathless beauty of Arsenal’s football, it will be a poorer place without Celtic’s passionate support. Poise beat noise last night. Steamrollered but never silenced, Celtic head off to the Europa League, taking with them their wonderful fans and the memory of Massimo Donati’s splendid late volley.

It was galling to the Glaswegians that they should fall behind on the night, making it a mountain-to-climb 3-0 on aggregate, to a low blow from Eduardo, who tumbled to earth when challenged, but not touched, by Artur Boruc.

Unless Celtic’s goalkeeper was wearing a particularly pungent aftershave it was impossible to understand why Eduardo collapsed.

Arsenal would doubtless have continued to progress serenely into the Champions League proper, drawing on their many accomplished players, punishing such inferior opposition, pinging the ball about effortlessly, but Eduardo’s plunge and penalty left a sour taste in the mouth for a while.

Yet such was the quality of Arsenal’s football that their right to a place among the top seeds was undeniable.

There was more, much more than fine goals from the outstanding Emmanuel Eboué and Andrei Arshavin.

There was a back-heel flick from Denilson straight from the Dennis Bergkamp box of tricks, the step-over from William Gallas on the wing, the box-to-box influence of Abou Diaby and another eye-catching cameo from the thoroughbred colt Jack Wilshere.

As well as the intoxicating nature of much of their attacking surges, Arsenal’s new steel at the back, where Thomas Vermaelen has blended well with Gallas, ensures they head hopefully into the Champions League draw and Saturday’s Premier League game at Old Trafford.

Manchester United will provide more of a test of Arsenal’s resolve and ambition but there seems a greater unity in the side, highlighted when Denilson rushed to protect Wilshere who was being admonished by Scott Brown after a foul on William Flood.

Tougher evenings lie ahead for Arsenal. Celtic rarely threatened. Trailing 2-0 from the first leg and urgently needing a touch of luck, Celtic craved an early goal and prayed for the rub of the green and white after conceding two unfortunate goals at Parkhead. Cruelly, they got neither. Within half an hour, Arsenal killed off the tie in controversial circumstances.

Exchanging passes with Eboué, Eduardo raced into the box, the speed and angle of his arrival catching out Gary Caldwell, Celtic’s captain. Boruc came charging from his line, running straight at Eduardo.

These are the moments when any doubts would be detected over whether Arsenal’s No 9 had recovered psychologically from that dreadful leg break. Eduardo kept going, nudging the ball past Boruc, who clearly pulled back so as not to foul the striker.

Eduardo went down, enraging Boruc, Caldwell and the noisy Celtic contingent gathered nearby. Dive. No doubt. As referee Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez pointed to the spot, Boruc went over to Eduardo and signalled his anger. So did Caldwell. Adding insult to iniquity, Eduardo calmly drove the penalty past Boruc.

The visitors’ sense of injustice boiled over. Brown accompanied the Spanish referee back to the halfway line, attempting to point out the error of his ways. Too late.

The damage was done. Aiden McGeady had some choice words for Eduardo when he next ventured close by. Caldwell, still seething, took more direct action, clattering the Arsenal man.

The frustration coursing through Celtic veins could not disguise the reality that Arsenal were vastly the superior side in technique and approach. Eduardo had a magnificent shot saved by Boruc. Nicklas Bendtner headed wide.

Eight minutes after the break, Gaël Clichy and Bendtner combined on the left, Diaby rolled the ball across for Eboué, whose response confirmed his remarkable turnaround in his fortunes. Once derided, Eboué had the Emirates singing his name as he dummied Daniel Fox to score.

Wenger turned the screw. Removing the goalscorers, he sent on Wilshere and Arshavin who dovetailed for Arsenal’s third within two minutes. Celtic were bamboozled as the ball pinged between Denilson, Arshavin, Wilshere and back to Arshavin. The Russian’s finish was emphatic, rifled past Boruc.

Donati struck a fine goal two minutes into added time but Arsenal were already smartening themselves up for Monaco.

Daily Mirror

Arsenal claimed a £30million pot of gold as they said “Hello“ to the Champions League last night.

But it felt more like blood money to Celtic as the Gunners waved goodbye to the moral high ground.

Eduardo’s disgraceful dive to con Spanish referee Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez utterly tarnished a night which demonstrated the gaping divide between the best on offer north and south of the border.

With the tie already effectively over after Arsenal’s triumph in Glasgow last week, the Gunners’ quality was always going to tell.

Yet as the Brazilian-born Croatian failed to even get close to Artur Boruc before crashing to the ground in a heap, stealing a penalty that must have made Arsene Wenger thinking about putting on those famous non-vision glasses, the Emirates knew their side had blatantly cheated.

There is no way round it, either. Some may choose to call it professionalism, others blame the referee for getting it wrong, while Celtic were left simply to shake their heads in disgusted disbelief.

But it WAS cheating, pure and simple, the sort of disreputable antics that would leave Wenger screaming blue murder if his men were on the other side of it at Old Trafford on Saturday.

And what made it worse was Eduardo’s reaction after he easily slotted past Boruc to put Arsenal on course to claim their place in this evening’s group phase draw in Monaco.

If the clenched fist of triumph was not bad enough, taunting the Celtic fans who knew what they had witnessed, his complaint to the officials that Boruc should have been punished for grabbing him round the throat in the aftermath took the biscuit.

This is a player, remember, who rode a national wave of sympathy after the horror double leg-break he suffered at the hands of Birmingham’s Martin Taylor 18 months ago.

For many, certainly those who are not died in the wool Gooners, that will have ended for ever last night, and there is no way Wenger can possibly even seek to justify the player’s behaviour.

• Full Time
• 90:00+2:51 The match has reached full-time.
• 90:00+1:54 The assist for the goal came from Andreas Hinkel.
• 90:00+1:54 GOAL – Massimo Donati:Arsenal 3 – 1 Celtic Massimo Donati finds the net with a goal from close range to the bottom right corner of the goal. Arsenal 3 (5)-(1) 1 Celtic.
• 90:00+1:44 Scott McDonald takes a shot. Blocked by Thomas Vermaelen.
• 90:00+0:17 Andrey Arshavin fouled by Andreas Hinkel, the ref awards a free kick. Gael Clichy takes the direct free kick.
• 88:31 The ball is sent over by Willo Flood, Header from deep inside the area by Lee Naylor goes harmlessly over the crossbar.
• 87:11 Unfair challenge on Alexandre Song Billong by Scott McDonald results in a free kick. William Gallas takes the direct free kick.
• 86:22 Daniel Fox delivers the ball.
• 83:57 Willo Flood sends in a cross, save by Manuel Almunia.
• 82:58 Artur Boruc takes the free kick.
• 82:58 Booking Scott Brown shown a yellow card.
• 82:52 Booking Neves Denilson receives a caution.
• 82:27 Free kick awarded for a foul by Jack Wilshere on Willo Flood.
• 81:14 Darren O'Dea fouled by Nicklas Bendtner, the ref awards a free kick. Artur Boruc takes the direct free kick.
• 78:04 Outswinging corner taken by Andrey Arshavin.
• 77:44 Aaron Ramsey takes a shot. Artur Boruc makes a save.
• 75:10 The assistant referee signals for offside against Thomas Vermaelen. Artur Boruc restarts play with the free kick.
• 73:28 Aaron Ramsey provided the assist for the goal.
• 73:28 GOAL – Andrey Arshavin:Arsenal 3 – 0 Celtic Andrey Arshavin grabs a goal from inside the penalty area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Arsenal 3 (5)-(0) 0 Celtic.
• 71:00 Substitution (Arsenal) makes a substitution, with Jack Wilshere coming on for Emmanuel Eboue.
• 71:00 Substitution Andrey Arshavin on for Da Silva Eduardo.
• 70:02 Daniel Fox takes a inswinging corner to the near post, Alexandre Song Billong manages to make a clearance. Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Lee Naylor goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 69:53 The ball is delivered by Marc-Antoine Fortune, blocked by Alexandre Song Billong.
• 66:07 Scott Brown fouled by Neves Denilson, the ref awards a free kick. Andreas Hinkel takes the free kick.
• 65:15 Marc-Antoine Fortune fouled by Gael Clichy, the ref awards a free kick. Glenn Loovens takes the direct free kick.
• 63:53 A cross is delivered by Gael Clichy, Glenn Loovens makes a clearance.
• 63:32 Scott McDonald challenges Alexandre Song Billong unfairly and gives away a free kick. Free kick taken by Neves Denilson.
• 62:40 The referee blows for offside against Marc-Antoine Fortune. Manuel Almunia takes the indirect free kick.
• 60:02 Substitution Aaron Ramsey replaces Vassiriki Diaby.
• 60:02 Substitution Willo Flood comes on in place of Shaun Maloney.
• 60:02 Substitution Lee Naylor is brought on as a substitute for Aiden McGeady.
• 58:46 Foul by Scott Brown on Vassiriki Diaby, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.
• 55:16 Neves Denilson crosses the ball in from the free kick, save by Artur Boruc.
• 55:16 Booking Aiden McGeady is shown a yellow card.
• 55:02 Aiden McGeady concedes a free kick for a foul on Vassiriki Diaby.
• 54:26 Scott McDonald takes a long range shot clearing the bar.
• 52:44 Booking The referee shows Emmanuel Eboue a yellow card for unsporting behaviour.
• 52:41 Assist on the goal came from Vassiriki Diaby.
• 52:41 GOAL – Emmanuel Eboue:Arsenal 2 – 0 Celtic A goal is scored by Emmanuel Eboue from the edge of the area to the bottom left corner of the goal. Arsenal 2 (4)-(0) 0 Celtic.
• 48:59 Effort from the edge of the penalty box by Da Silva Eduardo goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 48:09 Scott McDonald fouled by Alexandre Song Billong, the ref awards a free kick. Daniel Fox crosses the ball from the free kick left-footed from right channel, save by Manuel Almunia.
• 47:32 Shot from just outside the area by Aiden McGeady misses to the right of the target.
• 46:30 Foul by Marc-Antoine Fortune on Bacary Sagna, free kick awarded. Direct free kick taken by Manuel Almunia.
• 45:53 The referee blows for offside. Glenn Loovens takes the free kick.
• 45:01 The second half begins.
• 45:01 Substitution Darren O'Dea on for Gary Caldwell.
• Half Time
• 45:00+1:43 The half-time whistle blows.
• 45:00+1:00 Inswinging corner taken right-footed by Neves Denilson, Nicklas Bendtner has a headed effort at goal from deep inside the area missing to the right of the goal.
• 45:00+0:48 Da Silva Eduardo takes a shot. Save by Artur Boruc.
• 41:16 Aiden McGeady has an effort at goal from outside the box which goes wide right of the target.
• 39:26 The assistant referee flags for offside against Scott McDonald. Manuel Almunia takes the free kick.
• 38:01 Inswinging corner taken from the right by-line by Da Silva Eduardo.
• 37:52 A cross is delivered by William Gallas, Daniel Fox gets a block in.
• Correction – 36:32 Scott Brown fouled by Vassiriki Diaby, the ref awards a free kick. Gary Caldwell takes the direct free kick.
• 36:32 Vassiriki Diaby gives away a free kick for an unfair challenge on Scott Brown. Free kick taken by Gary Caldwell.
• 34:35 Scott McDonald concedes a free kick for a foul on Bacary Sagna. Free kick crossed by Da Silva Eduardo.
• 32:55 Free kick crossed right-footed by Neves Denilson from left channel.
• 32:55 Booking Caution for Gary Caldwell.
• 32:46 Unfair challenge on Emmanuel Eboue by Gary Caldwell results in a free kick.
• 31:42 Marc-Antoine Fortune fouled by Alexandre Song Billong, the ref awards a free kick. Direct effort from the free kick comes in from Daniel Fox.
• 30:56 The ball is crossed by Bacary Sagna, Da Silva Eduardo has an effort at goal from the edge of the area that misses to the right of the target.
• 30:15 Neves Denilson has an effort at goal from outside the area missing to the wide right of the target.
• 29:09 Foul by Gary Caldwell on Da Silva Eduardo, free kick awarded. Free kick taken by Gael Clichy.
• 27:08 GOAL – Da Silva Eduardo:Arsenal 1 – 0 Celtic Placed penalty scored by Da Silva Eduardo. Arsenal 1 (3)-(0) 0 Celtic.
• 25:50 Unfair challenge on Da Silva Eduardo by Artur Boruc results in a Penalty.
• 23:39 Emmanuel Eboue produces a right-footed shot from the edge of the area and misses to the left of the goal.
• 22:20 Da Silva Eduardo fouled by Marc-Antoine Fortune, the ref awards a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Gael Clichy.
• 21:26 The referee gives a free kick against Nicklas Bendtner for handball. Glenn Loovens restarts play with the free kick.
• 21:11 The ball is crossed by Daniel Fox, clearance by Thomas Vermaelen.
• 20:47 Centre by Aiden McGeady, save by Manuel Almunia.
• 19:52 Neves Denilson challenges Scott McDonald unfairly and gives away a free kick. Massimo Donati restarts play with the free kick.
• 19:47 The ball is swung over by Gael Clichy, clearance by Glenn Loovens.
• 18:08 The offside flag is raised against Marc-Antoine Fortune. Manuel Almunia takes the free kick.
• 17:55 The ball is delivered by Aiden McGeady, clearance made by William Gallas.
• 17:38 Daniel Fox crosses the ball, clearance by Thomas Vermaelen.
• 17:19 Centre by Daniel Fox, Thomas Vermaelen manages to make a clearance.
• 15:46 The ball is crossed by Andreas Hinkel, Thomas Vermaelen makes a clearance.
• 15:07 The ball is delivered by Neves Denilson, save by Artur Boruc.
• 14:36 Bacary Sagna produces a cross, Glenn Loovens makes a clearance.
• 13:39 Unfair challenge on Alexandre Song Billong by Marc-Antoine Fortune results in a free kick. Direct free kick taken by Thomas Vermaelen.
• 13:27 A cross is delivered by Gael Clichy, save by Artur Boruc.
• 12:50 Effort from the edge of the area by Neves Denilson goes wide of the right-hand upright.
• 10:33 Da Silva Eduardo takes a inswinging corner from the right by-line to the near post, Glenn Loovens manages to make a clearance.
• 8:00 Da Silva Eduardo has an effort at goal from close in which goes wide right of the target.
• 7:48 Nicklas Bendtner takes a shot. Save by Artur Boruc.
• 5:35 Foul by Neves Denilson on Scott McDonald, free kick awarded. Shot on goal comes in from Shaun Maloney from the free kick.
• 4:34 The official flags Da Silva Eduardo offside. Gary Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.
• 2:51 The assistant referee signals for offside against Marc-Antoine Fortune. Manuel Almunia takes the free kick.
• 2:17 Nicklas Bendtner challenges Scott Brown unfairly and gives away a free kick. Gary Caldwell restarts play with the free kick.
• 1:00 Foul by Neves Denilson on Massimo Donati, free kick awarded. Glenn Loovens takes the free kick.
• 0:24 Foul by Scott McDonald on Thomas Vermaelen, free kick awarded. Alexandre Song Billong takes the free kick.
• 0:00 The referee gets the game started.

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