...By which time we'd long since won the tie and were merely going through the motions with just ten men on the pitch
A lot rested on this match for both Arsenal and for Celtic but I suspect there were not that many Jocks of the hooped variety who believed they could actually turn around a two goal first leg deficit. And there certainly wouldn't be many Gooners, if any, betting against us being in the draw for the group matches. Wenger shuffled his pack again, but then again with Cesc out injured he had to. Robin and Arshavin were also left on the bench, which maybe says something about how highly Wenger rated the Hoops. We also saw the return of Clichy and Sagna, Diaby taking on the midfield mantle, Song returned to the starting line-up and Eduardo playing as the front man. Eboue also made the line-up playing right-side midfield.
Eboue to Bendtner and a great save from Boruc but his parry was put wide by Eduardo. Eboue to Denilson whose shot hit the side netting. Nick to Ed, almost. We were pressing well all over the pitch and its good to see our work ethic paying dividends. Eboue shot just wide with a close run thing and the keeper beaten. Eduardo into the box Boruc comes across and Ed went down just before Boruc arrived. He was right in front of the Celtic fans. Tonight's ref Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez pointed to the spot and the hoops were to say the least less than happy. I could see from beyond the half way line that it was never a pen, in fact we had a far better shout in the second half, but I'll take crap referees decisions all day long if they're in our favour. Boruc tried to dummy Ed on his line but our Crozilian took his time and slotted home from the spot as the hapless keeper went the other way. 1-0 (3-0) Arsenal and the Jocks now needed a minimum of three goals to go through.
There was quite a bit of shirt tugging from the men in day-glo yellow and black hoops. I think I'd get a migraine if I had to play in a kit like that, awful is only a partial description. Brown who was a total dirtbag throughout went in late on Bendtner. Caldwell rugby tackled Eboue to the floor. Sagna was taken out down the wing but no yellow cards were dished out by the Spaniard. Bill bombed down the right and pissed on the full back, his angled shot won us a corner. A shot wide from McGeady. Eboue breaks fast, eventually finds Eduardo whose shot was very well saved as it headed for the top corner.
The Jocks can moan all they about the penalty and they would be justified in doing so. Thing is though you have to get into the box to earn one and they didn't. Half time 1-0 (3-0) and the tie is all over bar the shouting.
Manuel Enrique Mejuto Gonzalez blew to start the second half, quite why he needed all those names in the programme I've no idea. I wonder if any of our refs have additional names (other than bar steward). Celtic have a good crack at goal from McGeady but it fizzes wide. Eduardo beats players all end up but fails to connect with a right footed effort that's well off target and limping over the line. Song and Denilson battling well. We work the ball through to Nick on the left hand side, he back heels to Diaby who plays it on to Eboue on his right. Emmanuel makes space for a shot and before anyone can say ' don't shoot Eboue because you're useless in front of goal' the ball is in the back of the Celtic net from our new look cool number twenty-seven. 2-0 (4-0) to the Arsenal. Eboue was carded for pulling his shirt over his head to show off a T-shirt, he wasn't even naked from the waist up. What's with such brain dead refereeing to card someone for celebrating a goal?
McDonald, they just had to have one didn't they? Are there any Scottish teams who don't have a McDonald? Anyway he shot miles over the bar, so he's on a par with all the other McDonalds in Scottish football. McGeady made a jump tackle but didn't get a card. Diaby was held back, pulled, hung onto, but no card was issued. Substitution time as two more Jocks get to play on our pristine pitch while Ramsey replace Diaby. Ramsey injured himself quite soon after coming on and should have gone off then rather than waiting to break down completely as he did later in the game and leave us with ten men. The Verminator joined our attack as our closing play and continuous pressing rushed the Celts once again.
Song blocks a cross. Song heads clear before Naylor heads wide. Eduardo and Eboue replaced by Wilshere and Arshavin, so Nick moves up front. Denilson to Arshavin to Nick, back to Andrey who performs a tasty turn to make space and slots home with a low, well placed shot. Although you have to say it was passed rather than shot into the goal. 3-0 (5-0) to the Arsenal.
Arshavin to Ramsey who runs with it well but takes it too near the keeper before shooting and seeing his shot saved. Nick was miffed because he was in a great position to be slipped in. Arsenal were pissing on Celtic at this stage in a half paced training game sort of way. What good possession Celtic had had was all played in front of our midfield, they offered very little penetration. Wilshere and the forever whinging Brown were at it, Denilson got involved, Denilson and Brown were carded. The game is not as fast now, neither is our closing as effective. Ramsey finally goes off injured and we've used all our subs. Naylor misses a good headed chance with Almunia nowhere. Finally in the last of the two minutes of added time Donati shoots from an acute angle which goes past Manuel and in off the far post. 3-1 Arsenal, given that this was the very last kick of the game.
It's a long way back to Glasgow and an even bigger step to go back down to generally poor quality of the Scottish Premier League for the Hoops. Given the way their season has gone to date tonight they may already have faced their toughest opponents of 2009-10 season.
One further question: Why is it that pissed Jocks, and most of them seemed to be that way, walk as if they've got one foot nailed to the floor?
