Arsenal cruise into Champions League group stages
Eduardo and Abou Diaby celebrate Arsenal's progress to the Champions League group stage
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By Will Haine. |  |
Wednesday, 26, Aug 2009 11:28
Arsenal cruised into the Champions League proper for the 12th consecutive time with a routine 3-1 victory over Celtic at Emirates Stadium.
The manner of the win on the night was initially fortuitous but as had been the case at Parkhead a week ago, the Gunners had rarely needed to find top gear.
Eduardo took and scored a penalty he had won in questionable circumstances to dampen any early vigour shown by Celtic. Emmanuel Eboue then grabbed his first European goal to cap arguably his best performance in a Gunners' shirt before Andriy Arshavin added a third. Massimo Donati won the prize for goal of the tie but coming as it did in stoppage time, it offered only the merest of consolations for a thoroughly outclassed Hoops.
Carrying a two-goal advantage from the first leg Arsène Wenger rested Robin van Persie and Arshavin - the pair will be better served preparing for Saturday's mouth-watering trip to Manchester United. Full-backs Gael Clichy and Bacary Sagna came back into the side after sitting out the weekend win over Portsmouth.
Tony Mowbray's omission of Scott MacDonald in favour of a lone striker in the first leg had raised a few eyebrows north of the border. With his side now chasing the tie, the former West Brom manager went with the traditional 4-4-2. It made little difference.
In their bumblebee strip, the visitors buzzed about to little effect early on. MacDonald drew a foul from Denilson within sight of Manuel Almunia's goal only for the subsequent free-kick fail to hit the wall.
Eboue and Denilson then combined with the former's feathered touch allowing the other to surge unchecked into the area. The Brazilian's shot, though was wayward.
The door was slowly being prized open. For all their verve and flair going forward this is an Arsenal side built on much firmer foundations than those in place in previous years. Thomas Vermaelen excelled once more alongside William Gallas who too looks like a man brimming with confidence.
The discipline of Celtic's defence frustrated Arsenal at times. Eduardo had gone closest inside the first ten minutes with a shot that trickled agonisingly wide. But if Lady Luck had perhaps deserted him there, she paid him back in spades on 27 minutes. Swift incisive passing involving three red shirts sliced through two banks of defenders and when Eduardo beat Artur Boruc to the ball the goalkeeper's momentum brought the striker to the ground. Replay's showed minimal contact but the Croatian took flight and a penalty was awarded. The weight of guilt did nothing to unsettle him and he coolly slotted home from the spot.
On chances made it was a lead the hosts deserved.
MacDonald had one chalked off for offside five minutes before the break. The fact that he was, by some way, would do little appease the Scots who have certainly been without the rub of the green throughout the tie.
But from the ridiculous to the sublime. Eboue burst out of defence and fed Eduardo who measured a sumptuous curling drive that Boruc clawed away at full stretch. From the resulting corner Bendtner headed wide when he most certainly should have put the tie completely out of reach.
As it was the Bhoys came out bouncing after the interval. Aiden McGeedy flashed wide and Almunia was twice called into emergency action from wide deliveries.
Eduardo brought a sweeping counter-attack to an end with a horribly scuffed shot from just inside the area. It should have been a warning shot heeded but just a few moments later Eboue's first European goal put the tie beyond doubt.
Such is the tone of Arsenal's season that the involvement of the three players in the second goal spoke volumes of the rejuvenated team-spirit. Abou Diaby, Eboue and Bendtner have all suffered at the hands the Emirates Stadium boo-boys. Yet the Dane's backheel, the Frenchman's inch-perfect set and the composure of Eboue to round a defender before slotting home eased the concerns of those who believe Arsenal lack the strength in depth to challenge for honours.
The tie was done and the tempo inevitably dropped before a clutch of changes refreshed the hosts.
Arshavin had barely been on the field two minutes when he collected a reverse pass from another substitute, Aaron Ramsey, rolled his man and planted a low drive in the same corner as Eboue had earlier.
It could have been four when Ramsey sprang beyond the last man only to be thwarted by the imposing figure of Boruc.
Those, the very few, in the stands who have stayed the course where then treated to a magical strike from Donati. Collecting a cross field pass a few feet from the by-line the Italian flicked a boot and guided the ball low across Almunia and into the far corner.
Celtic's only high point of 180 minutes had come way, way too late.