Source: Team_Talk
Venus relishing all-British battle
The latest all-British clash in Europe's premier club competition was confirmed on Friday morning when the two sides were paired together in a play-off for a place in the lucrative group phase.
Venus admits Arsenal were the last team he wanted but reckons the Londoners will be equally worried about a trip to Parkhead.
"I think there might have been easier ties - with the greatest of respect - for Arsenal to face," said Venus, whose side sealed their play-off place with victory over Dinamo Moscow in midweek.
"They will be just starting their season like us, but we've had a lot of games already.
"We've already had a competitive two-match tie and we got through.
"I think they will be wary of it and I don't think it's the game they entirely would have wanted."
Despite their lack of competitive action, Arsenal handed Rangers a footballing lesson in Sunday's Emirates Cup clash.
Yet, Venus sees weaknesses in Arsene Wenger's young side which Celtic can exploit when the teams meet competitively for the first time ever on Tuesday week.
"It's not an impregnable club," Venus said.
"They're still young, they have got some immaturity at Arsenal - it's there for all to see.
"But they are very talented footballers who, on their night, can give anyone in the world a good game."
He added: "I don't believe they're miles and miles ahead of us.
"I'm really looking forward to the tie and I hope our footballers are looking forward to it as well.
"Going to play against some good players in a good stadium, it'll be two great nights."
Venus, who arrived at Celtic this summer alongside new manager Tony Mowbray, believes the confidence gained from Wednesday night's historic third qualifying round success against Dinamo will overpower any fear.
The Hoops won a European tie after losing the opening leg at home for the first time ever when they were 2-0 victors in Moscow.
"It's nice to have created a bit of history for a football club," said Venus, who admitted he would have preferred the first leg of the Arsenal tie to have been away from home.
"I think you've got to be quite proud you went to Russia and overturned a one-goal deficit.
"They should have a bit of belief in themselves. They should know that they can get themselves out of situations they get themselves into, that it's not a hopeless task."
Former Arsenal captain and Scotland defender Frank McLintock believes the Gunners must show no fear in the first leg at Celtic Park.
Glasgow-born McLintock supported the Bhoys as a youngster, but would go on to guide the Gunners to their Inter-Cities Fairs Cup final win in 1970, and then help the English club to secure a domestic double the following season.
McLintock, 69, believes Arsenal should put on a strong showing to secure a result to defend back at the Emirates Stadium.
He told Press Association Sport: "It will be a cracking tie because the Celtic supporters are so noisy and passionate.
"But if you are going to get anywhere in these types of competitions, we never used to worry about whether we were playing away from home first or not.
"There seems to be a lot of talk about that in modern-day football, but I do not know why because it never entered our minds.
"We just gave our best in every performance, played it tight and tried to attack when we could."
McLintock, though, stressed: "Arsenal will have to be on their toes because Celtic have got a great home record over the years, but it was their away record, until the other day, which was one of the worst in Europe."
Charlie Nicholas, who starred for both clubs, said: "They would have wanted to avoid each other.
"But Celtic fans would be happy because, after their last two games, they would fancy playing anyone. It was a very good performance in Russia.
"For Arsenal, the concern is the lack of players they have brought in and injuries. I think it will be very tight."
The play-offs were divided into two groups, with Lyon's clash against Anderlecht among the "non-champions" ties. Romanian side Timisoara face Stuttgart, Sporting Lisbon and Fiorentina will play each other, while Panathinaikos or Atletico Madrid will make up the other teams that go through.
From the "champions" route, FC Sheriff play Olympiacos, Salzburg are up against Maccabi Haifa, FK Ventspils face FC Zurich, FC Copenhagen and APOEL of Nicosia face each other, with Levski Sofia and Debrecen the final two teams.
