Its payback time, says Eduardo. Group stages- here we come, say Arsenal.

ARSENAL 3-1 CELTIC
Wednesday August 26, 2009
Emirates Stadium, London

Dubiousness may loom large, but for all that Eduardo has gone through, I'm sure he can be excused for the one dive that led to the penalty which he calmly stroked home. I mean, CRY-onaldo has dived millions of times and he's FIFA World Player of the Year. Why can't Dudu dive just once?

On that fateful day in February 2008, Eduardo Da Silva must have been cursing his luck and boiled with rage from inside asking himself, "What have I done to this sport to incur such wrath?" That horrific injury, I'm sure has more of mental scars than physical ones written all over it.

However, a little over 18 months on, we see the striker finding his way back to full fitness when many Pundits and physios wrote his career off. His antics on Wednesday night will no doubt be the hot talk in tabloids, blogs and even word-of-mouth among football fans. Don't get me wrong here, I've always been a big fan of Eduardo, not just for his sharp intelligent game, but also for his attitude and resilience. And yes, that may (or may not, perhaps) been a blatant dive. But for all the cruelty that has been inflicted upon him, I'd entitle him to a dive or two. Besides, who was to say that Celtic looked very very threatening to even come back into the tie otherwise? But for a few flashes of brilliance from Mcgeady (who is my Scottish League God at the moment) Celtic never really looked imposing in the final third to score and frighteningly alter the balance of the tie. And yet again, there arises an argument or two as to whether it was really a dive or not. Maybe Dudu was just trying to avoid contact from the keeper and it was not like he was crying for the penalty to be given. Revenge is best served cold, said Eduardo when he showed he could be cruel to the game too. (Yes, things even out pretty nicely. One, actually make that two more silly antics from Eduardo and I shall admit he is cheap)

Wenger has got it absolutely spot on in his post match press conference when he says, "Is it (diving) acceptable? I have never asked in my life any guy to dive to win a penalty, but sometimes players go down because there is no other way to escape the goalkeeper’s tackle, sometimes they dive. We got a penalty against us two years ago in the quarter final of the Champions League that made the difference when Babel dived. Nobody ever apologised to us, it was a blatant dive and nobody spoke about it." And funny, Cry-onaldo (the world's biggest cry baby, self-explanatory name) who lives to dive on a green turf hardly gets stick from the football fans for his dives, but is recognized more for his outstanding skills and hunger for goals. Similarly, I really think Eduardo's dive (?) should be forgotten and his spirit, resilience and talent should be spoken of more. It was exasperating to hear the Ten Sports commentator talk only of Arsenal's lucky goals over the two legs that proved vital for their progress. Can't he talk about anything else? Narrow minded freak. (Now many of you may think that would apply even to me for writing only about Arsenal and in a still narrower sense, only about the Eduardo controversy last night. So I digress, not for the first time on this blog)

Many a Arsenal fan would have shared laughs with me when they saw where Mr.Eboue, Arsenal's answer to Lionel Messi was starting today's game. The Ivorian has disappointed quite a good number of times when he's played midfield. And last night, in the 4-3-3 formation he showed us that those disappointments would not get to him. Dazzling display (his work ethic and attack play this season has been fantastic) and a well-deserved goal on the night. The real talking point was the relegation of Van Persie and Arshavin to the bench. Signs of Wenger freshening up his squad for the biggies that follow.

The game had a nice early tempo to it. Arsenal were the more physical team with Song tripping or nibbling at the heels of Celtic players all night long, however, kudos to the referee for letting the game flow. It was more or less end to end stuff with Celtic not really getting too close to the Arsenal third, but enthralling many with their approach play. Arsenal (needless to say) enthralled as well, but they created the chances too. Bendtner's shot being parried by Boruc, to fall at the feet of Eduardo. But the legend scuffed his shot wide from what? Like three or four yards? Text book stuff. He would get his reward (not in the best of fashions) a little later though.

Eboue as I had mentioned previously looked extremely sharp and combined really well with the forwards to pull out crisp passing moves. But even at 1-0 on the night (and 3-0 on aggregate) you can never write a fighting Celtic off (especially with their small section of fans making hell a lot of noise, spurring their team on) and we very nearly got a scare when McDonald got the ball into the net, but the flag saved Arsenal on that occasion. And since then, Celtic never really looked like carving out great opportunities to score.

In the second half, Arsenal showed why they are the in-form team in Europe with a brilliant team goal finished off by Eboue early in the second half. Bendtner played a sumptuous backheel to Diaby who then had the composure to unselfishly tee up the Ivorian for Arsenal's second, when the former could have very easily taken a lash at goal himself. Signs of the young squad maturing and better decision-making from the young Guns. Now the spotlight shifts to Eboue. Haven't I been saying this all along? As my friend puts it, he is 'Arsenal's answer to Lionel Messi'. (Couldn't help let out a laugh there) He showed tremendous composure to fake the defender and fire the shot past the hopeless Celtic goalie. And did I mention 'composure' and 'maturity' somewhere up? Well, that's not going to apply for goal celebrations for the Ivorian legend. I mean, what was the need for him to take his shirt off? Absolute jackass. At the end of the day, I'm looking at performances and celebrations are the last things I'd worry about, but still, that was just a thought.

Wenger took off his two goal scorers and brought on 17 year prodigy Jack Wilshere (whom commentators irritatingly confuse with Luke Wilshire a GAZILLION TIMES, annoying) and Russian Messiah Andrey Arshavin. That move paid handsomely as Denilson stole the ball in the middle of the park and Arshavin played a neat one two with another youth prodigy Aaron Ramsey (who is now injured, disaster) before professionally turning his defender to find the back of the net from 12 yards. 3-0. Game-set-match-tie-Arsenal. Having just talked about Eboue's celebrations, lets just go through what our super sub Arsha did. Yes, his trademark "hushing-the-crowd" expression. But that was not what I was referring to. Arshavin seems to be a really focussed player right now and if you noticed, over the past 4 games, 15 goals have flown in and for none of those goals have we seen an overly enthusiastic Arshavin, irrespective of whether he's scored, assisted or simply decided to celebrate with his teammates.

Last night's post goal reactions showed that yet again. No Arsenal player ran to him to celebrate the third. And it wasn't until he got back to his half for the Celtic kick-off that William Gallas gave him a hi-five or two. (hi-ten? Forgive me for that lame attempt at a joke) Does that imply that Arsenal and Arshavin in particular are really focussed and holding back until they win something? Was it because the tie was as good as done and there was no point in celebrating another goal? Or simply, doesn't Arshavin get along with his team-mates on a personal level? (that last possibility is startling) Again, irrelevant. I'd be happy if football prevails at the end of the day. I'm after all an Arsenal fan and not a fan of each and every player's personality and relationships with fellow players.

And as always, we are destined not to have a clean-sheet and with the last kick of the game, Donati scored a brilliant volley for Celtic which half dampened my spirits in spite of assured qualification. But that does not mean Vermaelen and Gallas weren't outstanding. I'm getting the former's personalized Arsenal jersey once I land in UK for sure.

The qualification means that Arsenal are in the elite competition in Europe for the 12th successive season, a feat bettered only by Manchester United and Real Madrid. Proud to be a Gunner!

Saturday is not very far away. The only major injury worries from this game are Aaron Ramsey and Abou Diaby (whom Wenger emphasizes shouldn't play more than three games a week having just returned from injury) which leaves our central midfield battered. Also, Wenger claims that Fabregas could be short for the United game. Darn. (I pray that's the start of mind-games played by Wengerboy) On the flip side, Rosicky COULD return. No Fabregas, Ramsey and Diaby? Mmhhmm. Leaves only Song and Denilson as established centre mids. Eboue could fit in well with the 4-3-3 formation, judging him from the performance against Celtic. Does that mean we'd see Mark Randall on the bench? Wow. I see we're again going down to the bare-bones. Slowly. So the injury list ahead of the trip to OT reads: Fabregas, Diaby(?), Walcott, Rosicky(?), Nasri, Ramsey, Djourou, Vela and Fabianski. Not good. Not good at all.

However, there is some time for Arsenal to rejoice as they celebrate their entry into yet another season of the UEFA Champions League. The draw for the group stages will be made later today and I can't wait for it.

Not sure if I can say the same for the Old Trafford match, as I'd much rather have these injured players regain fitness and then make the trip. Alas, that ain't a possibility. So I'll accept the game with open arms. Not willing to come out with my prediction either, as it usually is biased and comes more from my heart. (same reason I dont play any of these EPL/UCL fantasy pick-your-side/predict-the-results games)

Hoping for a pulsating clean game of football. (tall order, I know)

Next post on Sunday after the all-important Old Trafford game.

'til then.

P.S: I'm putting in another post-script just for Aiden McGeady. (as I did for the first leg report) He is just brilliant. Hot property, not long before he moves to a bigger club. I can see it happening.

Arsenal at the 'HEAD' of the 'PARK'

CELTIC FC 0-2 ARSENAL
Tuesday August 18, 2009
Celtic Park, Parkhead, Glasgow

Tackles were flying all around on Tuesday night, with even Georgios Samaras putting in committed efforts to win the ball

Before I start scribbling on the match, let me just tell you all that I have no words to express the atmosphere at Celtic Park where fans were nearly 60,000 strong. I was fortunate enough to catch the match live on lame-ass channel Ten Sports (that, in all probability will be the last Arsenal match we see on that channel for a long long time, given their fuckin' bias towards the Red Devils' games) and their decision to take the commentary off for most of the game (luckily) turned out to be a good one. For that was the only way we could actually see (and hear) how Celtic Park was. Intimidating to say the least.

But so were the twelve men in blue (Diaby, the super sub included too) It was the twelve men who won the battle against the 55000+ Celtic supporters, the first such battle won by an English opposition in over 26 years. Of course, its quality that prevails. And not the quantity. Arsenal took that statement a little too literally, with only two goals to show for their impressive performance under Herculean conditions in Scotland. There is no denying that those two goals were both huge slices of luck, but I'm sure no sane being would accuse Arsenal of 'stealing' Celtic's victory.

I must applaud the Celtic park groundsman for having maintained such a great pitch. It really let the game flow. I know its no easy task maintaining football pitches, given that the weather is getting angrier and all the more unpredictable by the day. Add to that the presence of multi-purpose pitches that take a battering across Europe, be it for lower league football matches or for different sports. Ask the Wigan groundsman, he'll vouch for that. The JJB Stadium also plays host to numerous rugby matches, thus making the stadium a living hellhole for the opposition (and the home team too)

Talk of rugby matches, the first 45 minutes of Celtic vs Arsenal felt like one. Needless to say, it was the Arsenal youngsters who were getting pushed and raped all over the park. And hard as the young guns tried, the Celtic players proved just a little too strong physically. Had this match been played on Wigan's JJB, I'm sure I would have taken it to be a rugby match. I think I'm going to rename Celtic the all-Greens (Scotland's answer to the all-Blacks, New Zealand's rugby team)

Murder attempts on players apart, Celtic played a fabulous game. At times, there was this feeling that I was watching two Arsenals on television. Tony Mowbray's philosophy has worked wonders with the Scottish club and one wonders what they did wrong on the night to come out on the worse side of a 2-0 decision. Aiden Mcgeady was a livewire throughout the game, leave alone the first half. Donati, Maloney, Brown, Fox and Caldwell really worked their socks off. Although that would be too nice to say to Samaras, Celtic's version of the lazy Dimitar Berbatov (another striking similarity is the way the two can suddenly shift to their turbo modes and raise the pace, Georgios Samaras scored a beauty goal running from the halfway line during pre-season, I remember that one very well) One can't help but ponder, why on earth did Mowbray choose to leave his star player Scott McDonald on the bench?! Would it have been a different outcome, had Scott been on the pitch the whole 90? Nay, one wouldn't think so.

Arsenal on the other hand had no such issues with team selection. Wenger's thought process- simple. Go out there with the exact same eleven that killed the Toffees on Saturday. That ploy worked extremely well. Bendtner yet again had a fabulous game, proving that he was no one match wonder. (I wonder if he will be a two-match wonder) Arshavin seemed a little more sharper compared to Saturday, but nowhere close to his supreme self. I am guessing it must be the three games in one week, over 250 minutes of football that must have tired his limbs out. Song had quite a few passes of his go astray, but Denilson & him together did a splendid job on the defensive end. Especially Denilson tracking back tirelessly for every single Celtic attack, very pleasing to watch if you are a Gunner.

Celtic who impressed with an Arsenal style counter attack of their own (Mcgeady not surprisingly in the thick of things) midway through the first half must have had half a thought of complaining to the referee, "Hey, this guy in blue was supposed to be competing with Bolt at Berlin. What the hell is he doing here?!" The guy in blue, none other than Arsenal's number five, Thomas Vermaelen. That was one heck of a sprint back to kick the ball away from danger. But what remains to be seen is whether Thomas is really good in the air when it comes to handling the Drogbas and the Adebayors. I know I am losing it, drawing comparisons between a dude who can run a hundred in 9.58 seconds and another who must have been a man possessed when he darted back to thwart the ball. I just couldn't help it. The Vermaelen run back deserved such a comparison. (Here is a fact which has been hidden till date: when I kickstarted my football career in tenth standard, I won an award at a football coaching camp- an award which gave me the title of 'best off-the-ball chasing player'. Boy oh boy, did Vermaelen learn that from me?)

When you need crucial goals, you know who is going to deliver if you're a gunner. No, not Van Persie. Not Fabregas. Not Arshavin. Definitely not Rosicky. A certain player who has been in the midst of a zillion controversies, one who has been stripped of captaincy, but seemingly not of dignity. If anything, his performances have improved to a great extent once Cesc was given the armband. 43 minutes, nil nil. Arsenal fans getting impatient. Stage set for WILLIAM GALLAS. That was quite a powerful blow from Cesc, but it took me nearly a minute to realize that it was Gallas who had scored the goal and not Cesc with the help of a deflection. The former Arsenal captain has now set a bench mark for Kaka, Ronaldo, Messi and others who are still yet to score a goal with their 'back'. Ha. You got that right. His 'back' (he's back too)

Once Arsenal got that all important first goal (and more importantly, an away one of that) we knew that the tie will be Arsenal's to lose. The Celtic players starting losing it, cheaply giving the ball away in dangerous areas. But the Gunners failed to take full advantage of that, with Denilson and Van Persie both coming close early in the second half. At the hour mark, many of the players on the pitch showed signs of having run out of gas. Arshavin at the head of it. So this is what Wenger does- take the Russian messiah out & give Vieira Jr (Diaby does resemble Vieira in many ways) a run out. That move immediately paid dividends, with Vieira Jr. wriggling away from Hinkel brilliantly to set Clichy up for the wicked cross that was kindly turned into his own goal by All-Greens skipper Gary Caldwell. Game. Set. Match. Arsenal. The tie? Not quite. We are only half way through. I can't help but think though, Arsenal are as much in control of the tie as Usain Bolt is in control of his 100m and 200m races. I expect to see the all-Greens play the same positive attacking football at the Emirates, daunting as the prospect may be. Lets wait and see. It ain't over 'til its over.

Wenger, in his post match press conference has calmly rubbished claims that he may take the second leg to be a walk in the park and hence give his kids a run out. He says, "I believe we have to make sure we win the game at home. It would not be serious to take that game in a non-serious way. It is a massive game, what is at stake is massive to us because we want to play with the best. Even with an advantage of two goals we want to finish the job at home." Signs of a man clearly on a mission. Wengerboy was also quick to come out with his admiration of sensation Mcgeady and also his team's players Vermaelen, Gallas and Song. With the presence of a Bolt, with Gallas 'back' and with Song on Song, the Gunners suddenly look menacing. But again, this is just the start. I'm praying I say the same in my blog posts towards the end of March and April too.

The beautiful green turf of the Emirates will grace us this weekend. Arsenal will play their first BPL and Champions League games of the season on their 3-year old homeground in the next 8 days against Portsmouth and Celtic respectively. Those two games suddenly look so much more easier on paper, as compared to Everton (A) and Celtic (A). But one cannot be fooled with the illusion of Portsmouth (H) and Celtic (H). The former have troubled us at the Emirates if you rewind to three years back. Arsenal had to dig deep for a 2-2 draw after having trailed 0-2. And of course, we all saw how resilient and tough the all-Greens can be. I'd want Wenger to rest many of his fatigued players over the next week. Definitely for the weekend game. About mid-week, I'm not sure Wengerboy would take that risk.

"We're all going on a European tour!" was the chant from the away end at Celtic Park. They are probably right, but there is still work to be done back at the Emirates.

Right, next game- Portsmouth. Saturday.

'til then.

P.S: I so loved the atmosphere at Celtic Park that I am considering paying a visit there once I land in the UK (which would be in a month or so). Of course, I assure you, I wouldn't be wearing an Arsenal or Rangers jersey while in the midst of such a hostile crowd. I also assure you, if I go for a match, I won't be coming out of the stadium without Aiden Mcgeady's autograph (that is if the dude hasn't been lured away to a bigger club in a bigger league by the time I go there)