Celtic Can Definitely Beat Arsenal

If I had to name the one thing in the world which really bugs me, it would probably be ignorant football fans and annoyingly for me, they were out in force after the UEFA Champions League qualifying draw which pitted Arsenal against Scottish giants Celtic.

With a spot in the lucrative group stages of Europe’s premier competition up for grabs, this would be huge. “Battle of Britain” is actually many times more important, thanks mainly to the effect on big club's finances which comes with failure to qualify for the tournament proper.

Surely such a big tie would need serious consideration from both sets of fans as the enormity and difficulty of the situation hit home.

Well not in London, it would seem. According to most Gunners' fans, Arsenal are already through.

Such arrogance deserves a beating in my book and I believe Celtic can do just that.

Time to wake up

A few fans even had a go at the new format of the CL which makes it slightly, just slightly, easier for the odd championship winning club from a less famous league make it into Europe’s elite tournament.

It was as if Arsenal had a god-given right to be there.

But they finished fourth in their domestic league, which in days gone by probably wouldn’t even have earned them a place in the old Inter-Cities Fairs Cup.

The claim was that Arsenal are a huge club so should get preference over other teams from other countries, basically because they are a big English club with great resources and such teams don’t want to play against sides they have never heard of.

In reality, the reason we have never heard of them is because they don’t get a fair crack of the whip (before this season) when it comes European football and therefore don’t get a chance to get on the ladder to success.

To spell it out:

More games in Europe = more money

More money = better resources

Better resources = greater results

Greater results = FAME

I for one don’t want to see football ruined by 20 or 30 European clubs who think they ARE football and fans who behave like their team is that important, are not really football fans at all.

Back to Celtic

Arsenal fans were quick to bring up their sides recent 3-0 friendly win over Rangers as an indicator of their potential result against fellow Scottish team Celtic. I have never heard anything more pointless.

Firstly: Celtic are not Rangers.

Secondly: It was a friendly

Thirdly: the game was played just 24 hours after both teams had played the previous day, with neither team fielding their strongest line up.

Fourthly: IT WAS A FRIENDLY

Rangers were hardly going to go around kicking Arsenal’s team off the pitch or play defensively, which just about every team who visit the Emirates this season will.

But mainly, there was no fight in that game, there was very little meaning. Celtic will not roll over and neither would Rangers in a competitive fixture.

Surely this is just common sense?

What does history say?

When Celtic beat Dynamo Moscow 2-0 away in the previous round, it was the first time the Glasgow side had won a two legged European tie after having lost the first leg at home.

Now I’m not saying they will beat the Gunners if Arsenal win the first leg at Parkhead, but Celtic are on a high after a fantastic result which ended a streak of 22 away ties without a win.

The other reason I’m not saying I expect Celtic to win the tie after losing the first leg is because I don’t expect them to lose the first leg.

I’ve chosen a selection of fairly recent home results which should raise a few ignorant eyebrows:

·         2-0 v Villarreal (08/09 CL)

·         1-0 v Benfica (07/08 CL)

·         2-1 v AC Milan (07/08 CL)

·         3-0 v Benfica (06/07 CL)

·         1-0 v Manchester United (06/07 CL)

·         0-0 v AC Milan (06/07 CL Last 16, second leg also 0-0 but Milan won in ET)

·         1-0 v Barcelona (03/04 UEFA Cup, knocked Spaniards out)

·         2-0 v Olympic Lyonnais (03/04 CL)

·         1-1 v Liverpool (02/03 UEFA Cup, won 2-0 at Anfield and went on to reach final where they lost 3-2 to Jose Mourinho’s Porto, the team who next year won the CL)

·         1-0 Blackburn Rovers (02/03 UEFA Cup, another English scalp)

·         4-3 Juventus (02/03 CL)

And do not forget 1967 when Celtic became the first British side to win the European Cup.

With Arsenal again struggling with injuries at a crucial point in the season, I would honestly put a bet on the Scots to win this tie and as one Celtic fan said: “If we can nick a win at Parkhead, I’ll have no problem parking the team bus in front of Artur Boruc’s goal at the Emirates.”

But apparently that will never happen as Arsenal are already through, planning their group stage campaign.

I salute the Celtic fans, who are paying Arsenal the respect they deserve but should they decide to get in close to the bone with any Gooner, one question would surely kill any Arsenal momentum.

Remind me again, how many times have Arsenal lifted the European Cup?