Source: Team_Talk
Hoops boss relishing Gunners clash
The Celtic manager is a fan of Arsene Wenger's football philosophy and has recent and close-hand experience of pitting his wits against the Gunners' boss in the Premier League when he was boss at West Brom before taking over from Gordon Strachan in the summer.
Arsenal's visit to Parkhead on Tuesday for the first leg of the keenly-awaited Champions League play-off offers a different sort of challenge for Mowbray, with the winners looking at a £10million-plus jackpot for reaching the group stages.
The Celtic boss admits the thought of taking on the star-studded Londoners has been on his mind since the draw was made.
"You are not doing your job if you are not planning forward," Mowbray said.
"Most managers probably pick teams in their minds two or three games ahead. I know I do.
"You also look at the fixture list four to six weeks in advance and see where you are going, what you are going to do and to see the intensity of the training programmes required.
"So we have given it a little bit of thought but we haven't sat down and studied them too much, we don't need to do that.
"There is so much footage of teams like Arsenal, they are always there when you turn the television on so we know about them.
"What we need to know nearer the time is their injuries and likely team line-up but what we do know that whoever plays, they will be world class footballers."
Celtic, however, have the slight edge over the Gunners in terms of competitive games.
The Hoops progressed past Dinamo Moscow over two legs in the previous qualifier and will have their first Scottish Premier League clash against Aberdeen under their belt by the time the Gunners travel to Glasgow.
Hoops' wide-man Shaun Maloney, who was also away on international duty with Scotland in midweek, is certain the Parkhead side can cope with an exacting start to their season.
He said: "It's what you want to do, you want to play in the Champions League against the best teams from whichever country.
"So there are no complaints about so many games in so many days."
Arsenal 5/4, Celtic 7/4, Draw 9/4
