Arsenal should be happy to draw Celtic in Champions League play-off

Ollie Irish

7th, August 2009

14 Comments

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When I found out that Celtic and Arsenal could draw each other in the CL playoffs, I assumed it would happen. And, surprise surprise, it has.
This is a pretty good draw for both teams and their supporters. Arsenal will be confident, quite rightly too, of running rings around an average Celtic side, while Celtic will believe they have a puncher’s chance, especially if they can grind out a decent result in the first leg (played at Parkhead on either 18/19 August); a decent result is a 0-0 draw.
I can only see one outcome in this tie: a comfortable Arsenal win. Anything less and I’d be very surprised. How do you see it?

Rest of the draw:
FC Sheriff v Olympiakos
SV Red Bull Salzburg v Maccabi Haifa
FK Ventspils v FC Zurich
FC Copenhagen v Apoel Nicosia
Levski Sofia v Debrecen
Lyon v Anderlecht
FC Timisoara v VfB Stuttgart
Sporting v Fiorentina
Panathinaikos v Atletico Madrid

Posted in Arsenal, Champions League, Scottish football

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14 Comments

  1. Kipp says:

    Is the elephant in the corner not that these two teams could EASILY beat, Nicosia, Copenhagen, Zurich, Ventspils, Haifa, Salzburg or Sheriff.
    This new system is flawed leading to a worse group stage. With many groups simply a 3 team race. Surely it would be better to dump that tripe into the Europa League now rather than miss out on it altogether by finishing 4th to teams who will beat them 4-0 at home!

  2. Graeme says:

    I notice from the early voting the usual arrogance associated with English football. Have a look at Celtic’s track record against English teams in Europe .

  3. Anonymous says:

    I dont think its an easy tie for Arsenal or Celtic, and whoever wins, I don’t think they’ll win comfortably. Arsenal are the obvious favourite as they have much better resources but at the end of the day Celtic have overcome that obstacle before by beating the likes of AC Milan and Man Utd over two legs, so anything is possible and noone should be counting their chickens.

  4. John says:

    Arsenal have already showed recently that they can comfortably beat the champions of Scotland so it is going to be very hard for Celtic to progress.

  5. max says:

    More of your pish you”little prick”!
    We’re fed up humping EPL teams, that’s why you stopped British competitions, because all the trophies are at CP, including your latest atempt The Wembly cup which we trounced!
    ManU, Spurs, Blackburn Rovers (“men against boys”HO! HO! HO! Humped home and away, and of course, the first British team to Hump Liverpool (sorry lhads) out of the Champions league!
    It’s the usual EPL bullshit, you make it up as you go along and expect every one to swallow whatever your vivid imagination throws up!
    You should try a bit of research before you come out with your usual anti Celtic bile.
    Wit a fud!!

  6. Anonymous says:

    Max calm down have another hit ye wee skag heed!

  7. Dean says:

    Arsn Wengers obsession with NOT WINNING ANYTHING (at any other club he wouldve been sacked by now) is really starting to pinch. Only Benitez is more of failure £vsTrophy scale.
    Knocked out the CL by Celtic and then finish below ManCity and Villa should be final nail in this overrated youth team coaches’ coffin.
    Meanwhile Celtic continually punch well above thier weight, CL group stages 3 years in a row on a budget less than most Championship clubs.
    Well done Max. tell it like it is.
    It will be hilarious watchin Tilsley and Rozenthal crying as the self titled greatest league in the world get taken down a peg or two.

  8. Ollie says:

    Max = on the Spesh Brew early.

  9. Anonymous says:

    Max calm down! have another hit ya wee skag heed!

  10. Anonymous says:

    Why are you sweaty socks on the defensive all the time!I don’t think anyone thinks its gonna be a walk in the park for Arsenal.

  11. steve says:

    This won’t be the last English opposition Celtic will come across in Europe this season. Keep in mind they could draw Fulham, Everton or Villa when they get knocked into the Europa Cup. Arsenal are a Far superior side.
    Dean is clearly a no nothing cretin…£vsTrophy scale? how much money does Wenger spend then? Surely less than Celtic this summer, when computing departures? Thats what I thought…I suspect a 2-1 Arsenal victory at Parkhead and a 3-0 drubbing at home. If you think Celtic have anything close to a 50-50, you’re hopeless.
    And I think it is general knowledge that the EPL is the best league in the world…Barcelona are the only non-english team in the Europe that has been able to land a semi-final spot in the last two years. An English side in every Champions League final since 2005 leaves your argument in tatters..

  12. you fishin again Ollie?

  13. Ollie says:

    @ lordofthewing: always. you never know what you’ll dredge up.

  14. kaya says:

    What’s a skag heed?

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