Celtic fans opened with a stunning rendition of 'You'll Never Walk Alone', Cesc chatted to a mascot (a little girl dressed in Celtic colours) and it was great to see Eboue wishing all our starting eleven all the best in the warm-up. We played in our all blue kit, but absolutely not a bit like Wimbledon of old. This was a performance where we played our usual Wengerball, but with the added ingredient of work rate and intense pressing all over the pitch. This was Arsenal matching the Jocks work rate in Scotland but as Marion (Arsenal season ticket holder, lurker and part time Rangers fan) text me to say, 'the only Scottish flag in the ground was in the Arsenal section'. A section incidentally that did an absolutely top job on the vocal front.
Despite injury worries we fielded the same side that slaughtered Everton. Celtic battled well worked hard and even matched us early doors but as the half and match progressed class told and I felt we outworked them, pressed better and certainly looked more comfortable on the ball in every department. Arshavin netted but was given offsideeven though the ball came to him via some hoops. 'Whose that team we call the Arsenal' rang out loud and clear on Sky Sports. It was fairly even early doors but we just looked altogether more cultured. Denislon was injured in a break, Robin was tripped but it wasn't given, good defending by Vermaelen, Clichy works it down the wing. Robin whacked and stays down. We're pressing well all over the pitch, this is the new improved Arsenal playing like Barca. Playing as a team, with Song looking like he could develop into the next Essien. Well why not?
The foul rate increased as the half progressed but it was the only way Celtic could stop us. Not that they didn't have their moments but this was a remorseless grind where we worked harder and harder and got better and better. 'One Arsene Wenger'. Song held and kicked by Caldwell, how he's not carded only the ref knows. Arshavin found space where there was none. The TV man was shoved to win a Celtic corner. Brown has a shot through a forest of legs but Almunia was up to it. Fab axed by Caldwell, Cesc who is running the game has been targeted by Celtic but it won't stop him, better teams than the hoops have tried and failed. Celtic conceded one free kick too many just before the break. Robin slipped a short one to Cesc who fired a fine shot towards goal, William ran across the keeper, right to left, he attempted to duck the shot but it skimmed his back and deflected perfectly into the corner of the net. 0-1 Arsenal. A lucky goal? Maybe but how often, as been said before, that you have make your own luck? Shooting at goal tends to do this. There was plenty of decent football in a first half but we saw very little goal mouth action. More good pressing after the goal pushes Celtic all the way back. 'We shall not be moved' from the travelling Gooners, a somewhat stunned Celtic Park and a useful first half lead.
After the break we came out all guns blazing with three attacks in the first two minutes. Arshavin to Robin who hit one just past the post. Fabregas held but not given. Robin caught offside. Then Denilson shot just wide as Arshavin was taken out off the ball in the same attack. 'We're on our way'. Pressing by Robin, great play by Song. Maloney chopped by Song wide left and from the free kick there was a big hand ball appeal as it hit Bendtner's arm as he tried to withdraw it after a glancing header sent it his way. No way was this a pen, although it was according to the biased Celtic contingent on Sky Sports. Well feck 'em. First card of the game a yellow for Fox as the game gets a tad stretched. Robin just past the post. Vermaelen heads clear. A double substitution for Celtic. 'And its Arsenal, Arsenal FC'.
Nick and Andrey swap wings. N'Guemo gets a yellow which puts him out of the replay. Nick shoots wide as Arsenal start to find more space. A poor cross on a rare Celtic break but we're not giving them the time they need. 'Who are yer'. Nick fouled turning his man. A Celtic free kick greeted with ironic cheers, but you really do have to get the ball before you can win a free kick. Cesc whacked again. Cesc almost in from Gael. Gallas puts it past the post (ours) from a ball crossed in he had to do something with, but the Hoops corner was wasted. Cesc was tripped yet a again. 'We love you Arsenal we do'. Diaby on for Arshavin and its not long before a fine piece of play from him releases Gael down the flank. Clichy's cross is a killer ball that Caldwell had to block to prevent Bendtner scoring. Instead he put it past his keeper off of his studs. 0-2 and a very quiet Celtic Park apart form the distinct English strains of 'Cheerio, cheerio, cheerio'.
'Arsenal, Arsenal, Arsenal' rings out as the biased Sky team go through their hard done by Celtic routine. Bollocks I say, the shot count is currently 2-7 and we've bossed the game to date. McCourt on for N'Guemo but it won't help them. Song wins yet another tackle. Bacary shoots with his left peg as its all gone very quiet in Celtic Park after 79 minutes. A Fabregas effort forces Boruc to parry a moving every-which-way shot. 'You're not very good'. More good play as we continue to knock it about. Clichy gets a yellow card for what I think is his first serious foul, so how the clown Caldwell hasn't got one is best known to the ref, there has certainly been many far, far worse fouls from Celtic players. Great to see Nick and Cesc still pressing. Loovens gets a yellow card. 'Is there a fire drill?' as Celtic fans, who probably wish they had gone to watch U2 depart with five minutes to go. Still at least most of them are not heading home to Surrey. We're still pressing on 89 minutes and Cesc is a nailed on man of the match.
Lots of misguided sympathy for Celtic on Sky TV. But not from me, we creamed them. The better team clearly won and no matter how fortunate the goals you have to pressure the opposition and make the chances to score. You also have to be rather good to win at Celtic Park, but if we can beat real top European sides such AC Milan, Inter and Real away from home why would Celtic be a problem? It may only be half time in the scheme of qualifying but I really can't see the Hoops winning 3-0 at the Emirates. So I reckon the money is as good as in the bank Arsene, time to spend it and enhance our chances of silverware even further I believe.
