Arsenal v. Celtic 3-1 26/Aug/09

Today the Gunners cruised past the Bhoys on a clear and windy night at the Grove with an aggregate score of 5-1. Certainly the two-nil score was a fair advantage and, with so much talk from the media, already attributing to the Londoners the previous clash in Parkhead as well as against Porstmouth to pure luck, it was Arsenal's possession, and the new tactical disposition that made the gap even wider.
Eduardo dived. There is no doubt about it. The problem with the incident, is not even the extent of the dive, since the Scottish team was pretty much disassembled when it happened but what actually surround it. We shall expect a fierce bombardment from the media throughout the week, if not the entire season.




[Photo: AS]



Hostilities began with both teams firing blanks at each other, with the most important one of Eduardo, who missed a deviation by Boruc just after the Polish saved a great effort by Bendtner. The Gunners saw the panorama more bright as they reached Boruc's goal easily. Even though the Bhoys were making considerable efforts to get their game on, minute by minute the hope was dissolving into thin air. The wild pace from the visitors began to wore as Eboue shot of the mark.
Then Eduardo unleashed hell. The Crozilian fooled the referee after clearly diving on what appeared to be one of the most bizarre cheatings in football. The mischievous act was easily detected in the repetitions and the controversial refereeing saw the visiting fans, as well as some pundits on tv, enrage. Obviously the kick was converted by the striker. The frenzy media that will follow after this incident will not take precedents in the history of refereeing.
With three strange goals in their backs, Mowbray's men tried to recuperate from the devastating blow. Fox wide freekick was a summary of the effort of the entire qualifier: massive energy and raw talent wasted by some pervading bad luck. A disallowed McDonald goal was all that came from the Scottish offence.




[Photo: Daily Mail]



McGeady worried Almunia when a soaring strike went past the post just right, in the very beginning of the second half. In the next minute a dazzling play resulted in a fluke by Eduardo. The match resulted in a come-and-go until Eboué stroke the final blow. After a beautiful play by Diaby and Bendtner, the Ivorian broke Danny Fox's cover and shot to far post. The match was resolved, only if Celtic could have scored four goals without conceiving.
With nearly a half an hour to go, Mowbray replaced McGeady. This kind of movements are not expected when ten minutes before, and throughout the knock-out phase, your best man created the best chances.
With twenty minutes remaining Wenger made a couple of substitutions; midgets Arshavin and Wilshere came in for Eduardo and Eboue respectively. It was the Russian international, who made his first appearance, a golden one. Denilson stole the ball and Ramsey set Arshavin, who turned and finished again into the far post.
The dominance was ousted by the home squad. Celtic, in all fairness tried to counter the tight grip at times but certainly it was the Bhoys effort which was completely shadowed by the advancing and overwhelming force of Arsenal. The consolation goal, mainly for the travelling fans' joy, was Donati, who perfectly volleyed a long ball in the final seconds of the match.