Battle of Britain for Champions League berth .
Arsenal were drawn to face Celtic yesterday in the play-offs for the Champions League group stage, a tie that is already inducing feelings of excitement and anxiety on both sides of the Border.
Arsène Wenger’s side will travel north for the first leg in Glasgow on August 18 or 19, with the return match taking place a week later at the Emirates Stadium. Arsenal were already guaranteed their place in yesterday’s draw, while Celtic secured their play-off spot after their 2-0 win away to Dynamo Moscow on Wednesday night, having lost the first leg 1-0 in Glasgow.
In Scotland, some of the more cynical observers believe that Tony Mowbray’s side could face a hiding at the hands of their English opponents, given the vast gulf in spending power between the two clubs.
Arsenal, however, may feel nervous about the tie, especially the first leg in Scotland, where Celtic have an excellent home record in Europe.
Mowbray said that he relished the task facing him and his players. “It’s a tough draw for us, but everyone at the club is looking forward to two games against one of the top sides in European football,” the Celtic manager said. “It’s a glamour draw for both clubs and one that will certainly capture the imagination of both sets of supporters. We can all look forward to two fantastic European nights.
“I have huge respect for Arsène and the job he’s done at Arsenal. He’s had a lot of success at the club and has built a side that plays the game in the right way. Arsenal don’t spend the millions on players that other English clubs do, but they play with a real style and always try to entertain. That’s down to Arsène and his philosophy.
“It’s a hard draw for us but we will go into the game fully prepared and confident. The attitude and application of the players since I arrived at Celtic has been first class, and their ability was there for all to see against Dynamo on Wednesday.”
The tie poses crowd and security issues. Celtic Park will be filled to its 60,000 capacity for the first leg, but the Scottish club could easily take 25,000 supporters to London for the second leg. Celtic, of course, will receive only a fraction of that number of tickets.
While Wenger has been criticised for his lack of summer recruitment, Mowbray has so far spent £3.8 million — quite a sum for Celtic — on Marc-Antoine Fortuné, the Nancy striker, who featured under Mowbray during a loan deal at West Bromwich Albion last season, as well as £2.5 million on Danny Fox, the defender, from Coventry City. Landry N’Guemo, the Cameroon midfield player, has also been brought in on loan from Nancy.
The Celtic manager has had a hectic time since being appointed as Gordon Strachan’s successor on June 17 and has been critical of the club’s pre-season schedule, which he inherited on his arrival. As well as trying to qualify for Europe and sign new players, Celtic have played friendlies in Australia, Cardiff, London and Manchester.
“Sometimes it has seemed we’ve spent more time in the air than on the ground, so it has not been ideal,” Mowbray said. “But I make no excuses. It is the club’s business and we get on with it. And I’m only at the very start of a work in progress here at Celtic.”
Charlie Nicholas, the former Celtic and Arsenal striker, said that the tie will be closer than many might expect. “They would have wanted to avoid each other,” Nicholas said. “But the Celtic fans will be happy because after their last two games they would fancy playing anyone. It was a very good performance from them the other night in Russia.
“For Arsenal, the concern is the lack of players they have brought in, on top of their injuries. I think it will be very tight.”
Champions League draw
First leg Aug 18-19, second leg Aug 25-26
Lyons v Anderlecht Celtic v Arsenal Timisoara v Stuttgart Sporting Lisbon v Fiorentina Panathinaikos v Atlético Madrid Sheriff v Olympiacos Red Bull Salzburg v Maccabi Haifa Ventspils v FC Zurich Copenhagen v Apoel Nicosia Levski Sofia v Debreceni
Europa League draw
To be played on Aug 20 and 27, British clubs only
Dynamo Zagreb v Heart of Midlothian Everton v Sigma Olomouc Fulham v Amkar Perm Rapid Vienna v Aston Villa.
Source:The times
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