Celtic welcomed Arsenal to Glasgow with the huge prize of Champions League qualification at stake in a crucial tie for both sides. Tony Mowbray made changes for the game bringing in Georgios Samaras up front whilst the Gunners, unsurprisingly, kept faith with the same XI that thrashed Everton at the weekend.
The first half was as frenetic and hard-fought as most had predicted before kick-off with both sides looking confident in possession. Yet ultimately goalscoring chances were thin on the ground although Arsenal did have the ball in the net after just 12 minutes.
Some smart and incisive passing between Andrey Arshavin and Cesc Fabregas worked the ball into the Celtic area where Robin van Persie’s shot was blocked. However, the ball fell directly into Arshavin’s path who finished past Artur Boruc only to be denied, correctly, by the assistant referee’s offside flag.
There was a sense that Arsenal were slowly warming to their task but Celtic had chances of their own and mid-way through the first half with a great break that almost reaped rewards. Aiden McGeady was the man to instigate the danger, breaking at pace down the left before crossing for Brown in the box. However, the midfielder was to be denied by a superb challenge by Thomas Vermaelen who ran virtually the length of the pitch to make a saving tackle. Brown went one closer shortly afterwards, forcing Almunia into making his first stop of the game. A good run by Hinkel saw him cross for Maloney but his shot was blocked. Instead, the ball fell to Brown who fired straight at a diving Almunia.
Label: arsenal, celtic, champions league, match review
