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As far as Champs qualifying rounds go, you couldn't ask for a better match-up than Arsenal-Celtic. A scrappy, capable underdog with rowdy home fans vs. everybody's Premier League darling from a few days ago.
As stoney pointed out, injuries have dented Arsenal in the midfield, and I would agree with him that their best starting 11 pushes Arshavin back and brings in Eduardo.
Here's what the series of tubes we call the internet has to say about the game today:
Bleacher Report:
One of Arsenal's biggest advantages in this fixture is none other than the Celtic manager himself; Tony Mowbray. Forget about the fact that West Brom were relegated under him, he is a brilliant manager that refuses to give up on his beliefs. Mowbray plays attacking football and nothing else, that alone gives Arsenal the advantage that they are looking for. Playing against Arsenal in their own style is an attempt at suicide.
Who Ate All The Pies:
So this won't be another six-goal football lesson by Arsenal. Celtic will scrap and hustle and do everything they can to stay in the tie. A score draw then? I call 1-1.
Telegraph:
Hailing his young squad's unity it seems life at Arsenal is far more harmonious without Adebayor and Toure, who were both at the centre of dressing room unrest last season. “We have a united spirit," Wenger said ahead of his side's Champions League qualifier against Celtic.
Celtic @ The Offside:
I think Celtic will come out attacking and get an early goal. Arsenal will then be out for blood and pepper the Celtic goal, but the Bhoys will bend but not break and take a 1-0 lead to North London.
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Posted by
Marc on 11:46 AM •
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I suppose Celtic did “scrap and hustle” for about 30 good minutes, but when that deflection went in they were done for. Suddenly there was no service to the forwards. I blame it on Donati. He wanted to be the playmaker, spraying balls out to the wings and making pinpoint throughballs over and between the Arsenal line (which was playing pretty high, at least in the second half) but he just didn’t have the touch. I haven’t seen him play regularly but if Mowbray lets him boss play like that I suppose he might have been having an off night. Fortune also looked clueless out on the right when he came on. He got it to feet with a few good yards of space to do something in and consistently stayed glued to the touchline and kept his head down. No vision, no ambition. Scott Brown in midfield looked good but nervous, maybe one to watch for the future.
Arsenal didn’t look great, but they had that touch of class necessary to get the job done, as they should. Fabregas is a revelation now that he’s playing in the role that he was meant to. Celtic tried to kick him out of the game but he just wouldn’t quit. I’ve got nothing but time for Song, too, who was the best player on the pitch for me.
I vote 4-1 in aggregate after two early Arsenal goals and a lapse of concentration at the Emirates.
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I suppose Celtic did “scrap and hustle” for about 30 good minutes, but when that deflection went in they were done for. Suddenly there was no service to the forwards. I blame it on Donati. He wanted to be the playmaker, spraying balls out to the wings and making pinpoint throughballs over and between the Arsenal line (which was playing pretty high, at least in the second half) but he just didn’t have the touch. I haven’t seen him play regularly but if Mowbray lets him boss play like that I suppose he might have been having an off night. Fortune also looked clueless out on the right when he came on. He got it to feet with a few good yards of space to do something in and consistently stayed glued to the touchline and kept his head down. No vision, no ambition. Scott Brown in midfield looked good but nervous, maybe one to watch for the future.
Arsenal didn’t look great, but they had that touch of class necessary to get the job done, as they should. Fabregas is a revelation now that he’s playing in the role that he was meant to. Celtic tried to kick him out of the game but he just wouldn’t quit. I’ve got nothing but time for Song, too, who was the best player on the pitch for me.
I vote 4-1 in aggregate after two early Arsenal goals and a lapse of concentration at the Emirates.