Source: Telegraph
Arsenal 3 Celtic 1 agg 51: match report
The Champions League group stage will be a poorer place without Celtic's passionate support but will undoubtedly be greatly enriched by Arsenal's elegant football. [LNB]Apart from one ugly act, a dive from Eduardo that led to his opening penalty, Arsene Wenger's often beautiful side were a class apart from their guests from Glasgow. [LNB] Related ArticlesBoruc's anger at Eduardo justifiedChampions League actionChampions League drawEduardo will fire Arsenal, says WengerFabregas out of Celtic tieCeltic 0 Arsenal 2Further goals from the outstanding Emmanuel Eboue and Andrei Arshavin cemented Arsenal's presence amongst the high rollers of European football in Thursday's draw in Monaco. [LNB]Celtic, whose late goal from Massimo Donati was the scantest of consolations, were steamrollered but not silenced. [LNB]Trailing 2-0 from the first leg and urgently needing a touch of luck, Celtic had craved an early goal, had prayed for the rub of the green and white. Cruelly, they got neither. [LNB]Within half an hour, Arsenal had killed off the tie in controversial circumstances, Eduardo's act of deception ruining any hope of this game turning into any form of competitive spectacle. [LNB]Arsenal would have doubtless have duly progressed serenely to the Champions League group stage, drawing on their many stylish players, punishing such inferior opposition, but it was galling to the Glaswegians to suffer such a low blow from Eduardo. [LNB]Exchanging passes with Eboue, the Croatian striker raced into the box, the speed and angle of his arrival catching out Gary Caldwell, Celtic's captain. His keeper, Artur Boruc, who is not the smallest Pole in history, came charging from his line, running straight at Eduardo. [LNB]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. [LNB]Eduardo went down, falling to earth, enraging Boruc, Caldwell and the noisy Celtic contingent gathered nearby. Dive. No doubt. [LNB]Whatever legitimate questions can be asked of Boruc for leaving his line, and not simply covering the near-post, there could be no justification for Eduardo's response to being closed down. [LNB]As Manuel Mejuto Gonzalez pointed to the spot, Boruc went over to Eduardo and signalled his anger. So did Caldwell. Adding insult to iniquity, Eduardo jumped up, placed the ball on the spot, stepped back, ran in and calmly drove the penalty past Boruc. Celtic needed three goals and a miracle. [LNB]The visitors' sense of injustice boiled over. Caldwell complained again to Mejuto Gonzalez. Scott Brown accompanied the Spanish official back to the half-way line, attempting to point out the error of his ways. Too late. The damage was done. [LNB]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. [LNB]Caldwell, who conceded an own goal at Parkhead, now lacked focus, was cautioned for pulling back the excellent Eboue and was removed at the break by Mowbray, perhaps to prevent further punishment. [LNB]The frustration coursing through Celtic veins could not disguise the reality that Arsenal were vastly the superior side in technique and approach. Even the centre-half, William Gallas, showed wonderfully deft and quick feet to steer the ball past Brown. [LNB]Celtic briefly believed when Scott McDonald tapped in Marc-Antoine Fortune's cross but he had just drifted offside. Otherwise, the force, and the ball, remained with Arsenal. [LNB]Eduardo had a magnificent shot saved by Boruc. Nicklas Bendtner headed wide from the corner. [LNB]Whatever the sour taste left by Arsenal's first, their second on the night was fulfilling fare. Gael Clichy and Bentdner combined on the left, Abou Diaby rolled the ball across for Eboue, whose response confirmed his remarkable turnaround in his fortunes. [LNB]Once derided, Eboue had the ground singing his name as he dummied Fox and placed a low shot past Boruc. [LNB]Arsenal were completely in control, and some party-pieces spiced their forward momentum. Denilson's penalty-box flick to Thomas Vermaelen was straight from the Dennis Bergkamp box of tricks. [LNB]
