Commentary on Arsenal v. Celtic

I'm watching the game on CSNBA (channel 40 for me), and I shall give reactions as things happen. All minutes given are approximate.

Minutes 13-15 or so: Celtic applying lots of pressure, with Arsenal forced to simply boot the ball up field when they get it as opposed to controlled build-up. Arsenal get settled afterward.

At the 22nd minute, and Arsenal having some very good passing sequences.

And Arenal definitely aren't happy now. Van Persie is down with a head injury. And the stretchers are coming out. He doesn't need them, but he appears to be walking off the pitch.

23rd minute: play resumes with Celtic possesion, but it is quickly lost as Celtic simply thump the ball up field and hope for some luck. Celtic don't seem to be interested in the more patient passing build-up that Arsenal has used. Whether that is simply their playing style in general or a wariness of overcomitting offensively and conceding on the counterattack remains to be seen.

25th: Celtic enjoying a reasonably long posession. No rush to goo anywhere, but definitely testing the Arsenal defense. Again, Arsenal aren't able to get and maintain posession.

27th: Arsenal free kick as a Celtic pass down the left wing goes too far. Celtic regain posession. Celtic throw.

28th: Celtic cross is too long. Arrsenal through. Commentatorson TV saying it has been over a decade since a Premier League club has won a tournament match at Celtic Park. Still, don't count Arsenal out.

29th: Pass over the top from Fabregas almost reached by Van Persie, but its just a little to close to Celtic keeper Boruc. Celtic posession. Arsneal posession deep in the Celtic half, but the cross is too long. Arsenal retain posession and kick it back to keeper Almunia.

Ah, I guess I should mention the line-ups, shouldn't I?

Arsenal: 4-3-3.
Keeper: Almunia
Defense: Clichy (left), Vermaelen and Gallas (center), Sagna (right)
Midfield: Denilson (left), Song (center), Fabregas (right)
Forwards: Arshavin (left), Bendtner (center), Van Persie (right)

Celtic: 4-5-1.
Keeper: Boruc
Defense: Fox (left), Loovens and Caldwell (center), Hinkel (right)
Midfield: Maloney, Donati, N'Guemo, Brown, and McGeady
Forward: Samaras.

39th minute: both sides enjoying decent posession. Few clear scoring opportunities. Still, both sides getting into rythym a little more.

41st: Arshavin gets a shot on goal, but it it is partially blocked, which takes all the venom out of it and it is easily saved.

And now Celtic have a god chance. Cut-back from the right hit away by the Arsenal defence and the follow up from Brown is saved reasonably comfortably by Almunia.

Arsenal go down the other end quickly, and Fabregas is fouled. Free kick Arsenal from 28 meters.

And its a goal!!! Fabregas takes the free kick, and Gallas hits it with his head, perhaps unintentionally, and hits it to the far post when Boruc had the near post covered. Celtic lost at home in the previous round to Dinamo Moscow 0-1, but won by 2 goals in Moscow. Will Celtic lose for a second consecutive time in Champions League competition?

And that is half time. 0-1 in favor of Arsenal. Half-time stats (courtesy of uefa.com)

Shots on target: Celtic: 1 Arsenal: 2
Shots wide: Celtic: 1 Arsenal: 0
Blocked shots: Celtic: 0 Arsenal: 1
Fouls committed: Celtic: 8 Arsenal: 6
Offsides: Celtic: 3 Arsenal: 1
Corners: Celtic: 2 Arsenal: 0
Ball Possession: Celtic: 48% Arsenal: 52%.

So fairly even, but Arsenal have the lead. Other games at this point:

Sheriff v. Olimpiakos: 0-0
Copenhagen (Denmark) v. APOEL: 0-0
Timisoara (Romania) v. Stuttgart (Germany): 0-2
Sporting Portugal (hmm, I wonder what country they're from?) v. Fiorentina (Italy): 0-1.

And we're back!

50th-Celtic pressuring a little with some good possession, but Arsenal get it, although it is quickly lost.

51st: Celtic have a free kick from the left wing. Celtic claim the Arsenal defense handled the ball (that's a no-no), but the referee says no. Oh, and on the replay there is a bit of hand, though inadvertent. Arsenal come up the other end, but Celtic regain posession.

53rd: Pass over the top for Samaras, but it is too long. Arsenal have posession at the top of the box, but Van Persie has the ball stripped. Celtic at midfield.

54th: Van Persie has a shot, but it is wide though Boruc loked a little lost.

55th: Arsenal get it to midfield and a sloppy pass hands Celtic the ball. Their cross from the right wing is headed away.

56th: Some Celtic substitutions. Donati and Samras are out. Celtic have posession around the Arsenal box on the left side. Ball is taken, and Arsenal are moving up to the center circle. Oh, and its a yellow card of N'guemo, for a bad, late challenge. This means he is suspended for the next match, for receiving a yellow in 2 consecutive games.

59th: Celtic kick. Headed out for Arsenal throw.

60th: Arsenal dominating possession lately. Arsenal has a corner. Near post header goes straight up, and Celtic gain possession. Celtic foul on the attack, and Arsenal thump the ball upfield. Relaxed passing in the midfield, but the ball is lost and Celtic counterattack, but the cross from the right is a bad one.

Well, at this point I feel like simply watching the game and not mentioning every thing. Anything BIG that happens will be mentioned. Otherwise, I will write a general reaction after the game.

70th: Oh dear. A cross from the left from Arsenal. Caldwell tries to hit it away, and instead hits it back into his own net. Its an own goal by Celtic, and now Arsenal lead 2-0 away. Celtic really are in trouble now.

90th: Celtic hasn't had any clear chances. It seems as though if the score will chance, it will be in Arsenal's favor.

Stoppage time has begun, with 2 minutes added on.

And that is it! Arsenal won 0-2. Celtic with a bit of an edge in possession, but Arsenal had more total shots (9-2).

Other results:
Sheriff 0-2 Olimpiakos
Kopenhagen 1-0 APOEL
Timisoara 0-2 Stuttgart
Sporting Portugal 2-2 Fiorentina



3oth: Celtic are offside. Arsenal kick.