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Match Preview: Arsenal v Celtic

goonerlad — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:12:36 +0000

Arsenal will host Scottish giants Celtic tonight in the second leg of their Champions League qualification tie. The Gunners will hold a two-goal advantage heading into the match after an own-goal from Gary Caldwell and an inadverted William Gallas finish saw them run out 2-0 victors at Celtic Park last week.

Arsenal will be without captain and talismanic playmaker Francesc Fabregas, with the midfield metronome sidelined with a hamstring strain. The extent of Fabregas’ injury is unknown at this stage, though he is certain to be out of tonight’s match. Joining him in the stands are Theo Walcott, Samir Nasri, Tomas Rosicky, Lukasz Fabianski and Johan Djourou.

Arsene: Arsenal earned the luck

goonerlad — Wed, 19 Aug 2009 15:34:07 +0000

ARSENE WENGER admitted his Arsenal side got the rub of the green at Parkhead as they defeated Celtic 2-0 in the first leg of their Champions League play-off tie.

But the Gunners boss still believes his men are well worth the healthy lead they take into next week’s second leg at the Emirates.

And, though the wily old fox is not about to declare the contest over, he knows his side are already a giant step towards next Thursday’s draw for the group stage.

Wenger said: “It was a fierce battle. We dominated the game, but Celtic were always fighting and counter-attacking.

“In the end, despite being in control, we scored two lucky goals. But, of course, we merited the good fortune.”

Like his players, Wenger was taken aback by the passion filling Paradise from the opening moments.

He said: “The atmosphere was better than the Premier League and people were fair.

“Celtic were organised, and even at 2-0 they never gave up.

“Now we have a good advantage, but it is over 180 minutes and we are in front after 90.

“We have to make sure we win at home. We have to take it seriously. It is a massive game.”

Read more of the original here: Glasgow Evening Times

Arsenal faces a tough task at Celtic

goonerlad — Tue, 18 Aug 2009 09:52:23 +0000

On Tuesday night Arsenal travel north of the border to Scotland in their crucial Champions League qualifying match to face 42-time Scottish league winners and former European champions Celtic. The Gunners may well fancy their chances after their 6-1 hammering of Everton over the weekend, however, as history shows, many an English side has misjudged the Scottish giants in the past:

Celtic at home to English sides in Europe

Season	Opponent	Competition	Round	For	Against	Result
2008/09	Man Utd	Champions League	1	1	1	D
2006/07	Man Utd	Champions League	1	1	0	W
2002/03	Liverpool	UEFA Cup	QF	1	1	D
2002/03	Blackburn	UEFA Cup	2	1	0	W
1997/98	Liverpool	UEFA Cup	1	2	2	D
1983/84	Nottingham Forest	UEFA Cup	3	1	2	L
1969/70	Leeds United	European Cup	SF	2	1	W
1965/66	Liverpool	Cup Winners’ Cup	SF	1	0	W

Overall Record

Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Goals For	Goals Against	Win Percentage
8	4	1	3	10	7	50%

The Bhoys have hosted English opposition eight times in major European competitions and have been defeated just once. In the Champions League and European Cup alone their record is rock solid, winning twice and drawing the other – against Manchester United last season, the side who went on to reach the final. One feature of these meetings is how tight they have been in the past – three have ended in draws and none have ever been decided by a margin of more than one goal.

Read more of the original post here at itv.com