Glasgow was full of song last night, what with U2 performing there. At Celtic Park, however, Cesc Fàbregas was the conductor for the visitors who looked very classy indeed in their away dark blue kit. Hyped to be a Battle of Britain - but there was no Englishmen in Arsenal (oddly, there was one in the Celtic line-up) and only three Scots in Celtic. Shava made his Champions League debut for Arsenal and put a ball in the net in the 12th minute but was ruled offside.
The break came at the 43rd minute after Caldwell brought Cesc down, gifting Arsenal a free-kick which Cesc took. He smashed it goal-ward and Gallas tried to get out of the way and in doing so inadvertently deflected it off his back and deceiving the Celtic goalie - it would otherwise have been a straightforward save had it not been for this intervention. Time stood still as it flew towards the far side of the goal and it was actually going wide at one stage, before swerving viciously and nestling almost apologetically in the inside netting. Scotland 0, England 1.
The Gunners started the second half strongly but it wasn’t until the 71st minute, a couple of minutes after Shava was substituted by Diaby (I thought he looked different until I realised why: he’s grown some hair! Now that would take some adjusting to), when our next goal arrived. Clichy and Diaby were exchanging passes and then Clichy drilled a cross to the near post where Caldwell (yes, he who gifted Arsenal’s first goal) stuck a foot out and diverted it beyond his goalie. Thank you, Celtic. Scotland 0, England 2. For pictures, go here.
‘You should have gone to see U2,’ and ‘We’re going on a European tour,’ chanted the away fans at the end.
Oh, and Spuds manager, Harry Redknapp, was at Celtic Park to watch midfielder Scott Brown – or was he watching Arsenal instead? After all, he is a closet Arsenal supporter. And oh blimey, read this for how Arsenal got compared to Sarah Palin.
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I thought only April and September would be my non-flying months this year but it looks like I’ll be travelling in September after all. More details later. Not a European tour though, not yet anyway (it’s too soon after the May trip!).
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