Ng'wanza Madaso
JF-Expert Member
- Oct 21, 2008
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Arsenal established a comfortable lead in their Champions League play-off with Celtic with a 2-0 victory over the SPL side in Glasgow.
There was fortune in both the Gunners' goals as William Gallas got in the way of Cesc Fabregas's free-kick on the stroke of half-time to unwittingly give the Premier League outfit the lead, after the home side had matched their in-form opponents for much of the first 45 minutes.
However, a more dominant second-half showing from Arsene Wenger's team told as an unfortunate Gary Caldwell then scored an own goal 19 minutes from time to make it 2-0, as Gael Clichy's cross proved too fast for him to handle.
Not willing to change an emphatically winning side, Wenger was almost forced to do so in the wake of his team's demolition of Everton at the weekend. Fabregas, Denilson and Bacary Sagna all faced late fitness tests before kick-off at Celtic Park, and thankfully for the Frenchman they were given the all-clear.
Having scored twice at the weekend Fabregas was the real architect of Arsenal's goal just before half-time, as the Gunners struck a strong blow going into the break. Celtic had matched their opponents throughout the opening 43 minutes, but the midfielder's driving run won a free-kick out of Gary Caldwell, and his shot from the set piece was deflected off Gallas to wrongfoot Artur Boruc.
Before that, Tony Mowbray's side had threatened on as many occasions as their rivals, but it was Arsenal who first came close. The opening stages were disjointed as both sides jostled for possession, but when Arsenal first clicked they had the ball in the back of the net. Andrei Arshavin's strike was correctly ruled offside however, as he pounced on Robin van Persie's deflected shot after the visitors had slickly bypassed the home defence.
Massimo Donati looked to have given a free-kick away in a very dangerous position on the left side of Celtic's box when bringing Van Persie down, but defence was quickly turned into attack as the Bhoys raced up the other end. The impressive Thomas Vermaelen's superb block on Scott Brown prevented a Celtic lead on 20 minutes as Aiden McGeady dinked the ball into the onrushing midfielder.
Just before Arsenal's goal Celtic again went close as Brown struck a shot following Andreas Hinkel's penetrating run, but Gallas popped up to ensure it was the away side who scored first as he tried to avoid Fabregas's driven shot, but instead diverted the ball into the bottom-right corner.
A malaise seemed to take hold of the Celtic changing room at half-time - that or shock - as immediately from the commencement of the second half Arsenal were all over the hosts.
Van Persie dragged two shots wide as he found space to steady himself, and Denilson curled an effort wide of Boruc's left post before Celtic had a penalty appeal turned away. Shaun Maloney's free-kick from the left struck Nicklas Bendtner on the arm inside Arsenal's area, but Massimo Busacca waved play on as he ignored what may have been construed as a harsh spot-kick.
Mowbray knew he had to do something to try and turn the tide and Scott McDonald and Marc-Antoine Fortune were thrown on, having been left on the bench in favour of lone striker Georgios Samaras.
The change looked to be a good one as Fortune took little time to settle, and he forced Gallas to turn the ball behind from a crisp low cross from the right side. But it was a similar delivery at the other end that delivered Arsenal's second.
Abou Diaby, on moments earlier for Arshavin, drove forward and laid on Clichy down the left. His near-post cross was turned into his own net by the lunging Caldwell as Arsenal secured a commanding lead ahead of the return leg at Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.
Joseph Caron Dawe / Eurosport
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There was fortune in both the Gunners' goals as William Gallas got in the way of Cesc Fabregas's free-kick on the stroke of half-time to unwittingly give the Premier League outfit the lead, after the home side had matched their in-form opponents for much of the first 45 minutes.
However, a more dominant second-half showing from Arsene Wenger's team told as an unfortunate Gary Caldwell then scored an own goal 19 minutes from time to make it 2-0, as Gael Clichy's cross proved too fast for him to handle.
Not willing to change an emphatically winning side, Wenger was almost forced to do so in the wake of his team's demolition of Everton at the weekend. Fabregas, Denilson and Bacary Sagna all faced late fitness tests before kick-off at Celtic Park, and thankfully for the Frenchman they were given the all-clear.
Having scored twice at the weekend Fabregas was the real architect of Arsenal's goal just before half-time, as the Gunners struck a strong blow going into the break. Celtic had matched their opponents throughout the opening 43 minutes, but the midfielder's driving run won a free-kick out of Gary Caldwell, and his shot from the set piece was deflected off Gallas to wrongfoot Artur Boruc.
Before that, Tony Mowbray's side had threatened on as many occasions as their rivals, but it was Arsenal who first came close. The opening stages were disjointed as both sides jostled for possession, but when Arsenal first clicked they had the ball in the back of the net. Andrei Arshavin's strike was correctly ruled offside however, as he pounced on Robin van Persie's deflected shot after the visitors had slickly bypassed the home defence.
Massimo Donati looked to have given a free-kick away in a very dangerous position on the left side of Celtic's box when bringing Van Persie down, but defence was quickly turned into attack as the Bhoys raced up the other end. The impressive Thomas Vermaelen's superb block on Scott Brown prevented a Celtic lead on 20 minutes as Aiden McGeady dinked the ball into the onrushing midfielder.
Just before Arsenal's goal Celtic again went close as Brown struck a shot following Andreas Hinkel's penetrating run, but Gallas popped up to ensure it was the away side who scored first as he tried to avoid Fabregas's driven shot, but instead diverted the ball into the bottom-right corner.
A malaise seemed to take hold of the Celtic changing room at half-time - that or shock - as immediately from the commencement of the second half Arsenal were all over the hosts.
Van Persie dragged two shots wide as he found space to steady himself, and Denilson curled an effort wide of Boruc's left post before Celtic had a penalty appeal turned away. Shaun Maloney's free-kick from the left struck Nicklas Bendtner on the arm inside Arsenal's area, but Massimo Busacca waved play on as he ignored what may have been construed as a harsh spot-kick.
Mowbray knew he had to do something to try and turn the tide and Scott McDonald and Marc-Antoine Fortune were thrown on, having been left on the bench in favour of lone striker Georgios Samaras.
The change looked to be a good one as Fortune took little time to settle, and he forced Gallas to turn the ball behind from a crisp low cross from the right side. But it was a similar delivery at the other end that delivered Arsenal's second.
Abou Diaby, on moments earlier for Arshavin, drove forward and laid on Clichy down the left. His near-post cross was turned into his own net by the lunging Caldwell as Arsenal secured a commanding lead ahead of the return leg at Emirates Stadium next Wednesday.
Joseph Caron Dawe / Eurosport