Review: Celtic 0 - Arsenal 2

Excellent job well done, last night. Not nearly near our best, but still good enough. Much ado about nothing about Fortress Celtic Park, supporters, etc etc. It seems we're the first "English" team to win at Celtic since 129 B.C., which makes me wonder even more about the much ado about nothing bit. Apart from the first 15 minutes, Celtic weren't really competitive, and came nowhere to scoring. For that, my hats are off to Mohawk Billy and Vermaelen's mammoth performances. I must say: TV's really really looking good. More on him in the player ratings.

As for the game itself, 2-0 is a fair result. The minute your defender scores with his back, you must know the night's going to be good. They all say he knew nothing about it, but if you watched the replays, particularly the one that shows it from Cesc's perspective, you see Billy running straight at the ball, turning his back oh-so-slightly towards the goal, tensing his back muscles for that split second, and deflecting the ball towards goal. Totally intended, I tell you! What else could he have done? If he really wanted to get out of the way, he'd have ducked! By the way, see photo above.

So the first goal was intended. Then, at the start of the second half, we should've put the game to bed. RVP had a mediocre game as far as his finishing was concerned, and Celtic seemed rather upset to have had their halftime of tea and scones interrupted. They didn't really look like they wanted to be there. So it took till the 71st minute, and again, they say it's luck. Of course it was luck, but so what? Nobody ever cried any tears for poor old unlucky Senderos for scoring his own goals, so why the tears for Caldwell?

2-0, and a fair reflection. The goals could've been prettier, but who cares. It's about time we had our share of easy/lucky European ties.

Player ratings:

Almunia 7 - Gave him an extra point for not falling asleep at about 2100 hrs GMT.

Sagna 7 - Not bad, but not spectacular. More than a few stray passes, unfortunately. But looked up to it beyond the half way line.

Mohawk Billy 7.5 - Has started the season like a house on fire. He really has turned in rock solid performances since the captaincy fiasco. Looked in command, and to score such a Ronaldo-esque, Henry-esque goal to quick-thinking skill, man....

Vermaelen 8 - Adams supposedly said he ain't ready. Well, Tony. We love you, we really do. But post Arse, your judgement, especially as manager of Pompey - slightly suspect. Work on that first, okay? Vermaelen in two games - seems to be the man. Good in the air, covers hell lot of ground. Excellent.

Clichy 7 - In defence, did not have too much work, and did well on the flanks as usual. Nice cross to Caldwell for the goal. It should've been RVP's goal, but we'll give it to Caldwell.

Song 7.5 - In his two games, he's seemed a man transformed. His passes are no longer mindless side-ways efforts, and seems to be much more energetic. Good boy.

Denilson 7 - A quiet, not too spectacular, but reliable showing.

Cesc 8 - All over the pitch as usual. No doubt, he's our engine. Put in a few fine moves in defence too. And great pass to Billy for the goal. Another "assist" to put down in his name.

Arshavin 6.5 - Unfortunately, had a quiet night. Strayed offside on one occasion, and his substitution had something to do with the goal.

Bent Nick 6.5 - Tried his best. As tele-pundit, ex-Singapore striker Kumar has said, on the right may not be his best position, and tonight showed it. But at least we can count on 100% commitment no matter what. Which is more than can be said of a certain Predator lookalike.

RVP 6.5 - Was usual out and about, but his finishing, well...on the verge of quite awful on a few occasions. Should've finished the game off early in the second half.

So on to Saturday and Pompey. For the first time ever (fingers crossed), the Arsewiper will be reporting from the Emirates. Now all we need to do is keep other fingers crossed that nobody emerged from last night with more injuries.

What is one to do with Theo? First, that shoulder, then the other shoulder. Now the space between his shoulders. Shite. And he's not even geriatric yet. On this note, methinks Le Boss should've given Ramsey and Wilshere a run out last night, and given some of the boys a short rest last night.

But maybe he's saving them for Pompey. We'll see.

Ciao.