Source: Daily_Mail
Gallas lucky dip rocks Scots: Arsenal on march as flukes see off Celtic
Even if the finishes that secured victory in this enthralling Champions League encounter lacked the finesse of any one of the six goals they put past Everton last weekend, they were no less significant.[LNB]Because here in the first leg of this Champions League play-off at pulsating Parkhead, was further evidence of what Arsene Wenger meant when he told this newspaper last week that this Arsenal team are ready. That, in the words of the Frenchman, they will 'get there'.[LNB]Not since 1983 had an English team come here and won a competitive tie and while the absence of a single Englishman in Arsenal's line-up might prompt those who represented Nottingham Forest that night to argue their record remains intact, Wenger and his players should take great pride in their performance. [LNB] Lucky strike: Cesc Fabregas drives his shot through the legs of Aidan McGeady and the ball skimmed off the back of Gunners defender William Gallas on its way into the far corner of the Celtic net[LNB]Their goals owed as much to good fortune as good football, given that Gary Caldwell scored in his own net and the stooping William Gallas was trying to get out of the way when a shot from Cesc Fabregas after a short free-kick from Robin van Persie struck him on the back and spun into Celtic's goal. [LNB]But it remained a good performance. The kind they have often failed to produce in recent seasons. Tony Mowbray's Celtic made it tough for the visitors with a determined display that did much to disguise the void in class.[LNB]But Arsenal showed that, as well as destroying opponents in the manner they did at Goodison on Saturday, they can also tough it out. They can roll with the punches, cope with the sheer brutality of such a physical encounter and emerge with a brilliant result.[LNB]Predictions this early in the season are ridiculous. But Sir Alex Ferguson might have been a bit premature when he overlooked Wenger's team as Manchester United's main rivals. He named Chelsea and Liverpool, even spoke of a possible challenge from Manchester City, but did not identify Arsenal as a team that would present him with too many problems.[LNB]And yet it was here last season that United could only escape with a 1-1 draw, and here two years earlier that they lost 1-0.[LNB] Floored: Gary Caldwell lies prostrate as the Scot deflects Gael Clichy's cross past Artur Boruc to double Arsenal''s lead[LNB]A year older, Arsenal do now appear to be reaching maturity, with players like Fabregas, Van Persie, Andrey Arshavin and Gael Clichy starting to approach the peak of their powers and the talented Thomas Vermaelen bringing more quality to the back four. [LNB]Undaunted by the deafening roar of these incredible fans, Arsenal started well, passing the ball with such fluency and precision it was simply a joy to watch. Even the home fans seemed to appreciate Arshavin. Perhaps because it was not so long ago that he was destroying Rangers in a UEFA Cup final in Manchester.[LNB]But it was with relief that they responded to the sight of the assistant referee's flag being raised when Arshavin drove the ball into the Celtic net. He was, as the match officials were quick to realise, in an offside position when he completed a super move by pouncing on a misdirected shot from Van Persie.[LNB]The momentum was very much with Arsenal, so much so that Celtic struggled to escape their own half. That said, they did threaten with a counter-attack that was only halted when new-signing Vermaelen made a courageous challenge on Scott Brown. The same Brown being watched here by Tottenham's Harry Redknapp, who would have noted how the Scottish winger accelerated past Gael Clichy at one point.[LNB] No way through: Brown and Vermaelen in a crunching collision[LNB]Celtic's response to Arsenal's fast-flowing football was simply to make it more physical. They were enjoying far less of the ball but they chased hard and tackled hard, relying on the pace of Brown and Aiden McGeady to threaten when they did have possession. [LNB]Arsenal, by contrast, continued to employ a more aesthetically pleasing approach. Although as the interval drew closer it started to have the feel of too many Arsenal performances of the more recent past. They began to frustrate their own supporters with their failure to turn all that pressure into goals.[LNB]It was not until the 38th minute that Artur Boruc, the Celtic keeper, had a save to make, dropping to his right to gather a shot from Arshavin after the Russian had attacked from deep.[LNB] Floored: Denilson (left) catches Celtic's flying winger McGeady[LNB]Only because of a large helping of good fortune, and reckless defending, did Arsenal make the breakthrough in the 43rd minute. It was thanks to a clumsy challenge by Caldwell on Van Persie that Arsenal were awarded the free-kick and thanks to a wicked deflection off Gallas that the effort from Fabregas wrong-footed Boruc and sent the visitors ahead. The ball struck Gallas on the back and changed direction.[LNB]After 71 minutes the tie was all but over, Caldwell trying in vain to cut out Clichy's cross and succeeding only in diverting the ball into the back of his own net. Tie over. Arsenal march on.[LNB] Explore more:People:Harry Redknapp, Aiden McGeady, Andrey Arshavin, Gary Caldwell, Alex Ferguson, ThomasVermaelen, Artur Boruc, Robin van Persie, WILLIAM GALLAS, Tony MowbrayPlaces:Liverpool, Manchester
