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The Champions League qualifier between Arsenal and Celtic saw the Londoners gain a monumental advantage going into the second leg of the  tie. Arsenal were the eventual winners by a seemingly comfortable 2-0 advantage - this despite the fact that Celtic were in the match for most of the first half and even parts of the second half. Two ‘streaky' goals in each half turned the tide in Arsenal's favour, surely the kind of luck that Arsenal has been lacking for a few seasons now. The match on the whole had the imprints of the prodigious talent that Arsene Wenger's side is. Against a volatile crowd and a rough looking Celtic side, the Arsena l ‘kids' showed the necessary composure to come out on top in arguably one of Europe's most difficult away venues.

Celtic Park greeted Arsene Wenger's line-up of young stars with an atmosphere that is without a shadow of doubt, unmatched in Europe. Wenger started with his side looking to go for the kill in the first leg itself. Robin van Persie, Nicklas Bendtner, Arshavin and the influential figure of Cesc Fabregas all started the game for Arsenal and the game plan of Wenger's side was all too obvious. Tony Mowbray (erstwhile manager of the relegated West Brom in last year's edition of the Premier League), who is succeeding the highly successful Gordon Strachan at Celtic, had a job on his hands as his side looked to contain an enterprising and attacking Arsenal unit brimming with confidence.

Arsenal were fresh from their thumping 6-1 win over a normally resolute Everton side on Saturday and named an unchanged eleven from that encounter. Denilson, Fabregas and Sagna had fortunately recovered from the knocks they picked up and were there to take their places in the starting line-up. The match started at a frenetic pace with both sides looking to stamp their authority early on in the contest. And like the famed European nights of the past at Celtic Park, the atmosphere today was no different, with the partisan Celtic crowd making all the noise. With the greasy outfield and customary tackles flying in, both sides struggled to gain a foothold into the match.

The first piece of goalmouth action saw Celtic captain Gary Caldwell miss a glorious chance to get Celtic off and running in the 11th minute. An off-balance header from the Celtic captain sailed over the bar even though he had managed to create quite a bit of space and looked set to give Celtic the early lead. That sprang the Gunners into action and Van Persie forced a save from Arthur Boruc, the Celtic keeper and though Arshavin found the back of the net from the rebound, he was off side by miles.

Then in the 18th minute Celtic almost got the better of Arsenal with a superb bit of counter attacking play - Van Persie took a free kick and the clearance from the Celtic defenders saw Aiden McGeady scuttling away with the ball. McGeady tried to find Scott Brown in the Arsenal box, but it was the Gunner's new summer signing, Thomas Vermaelen who saved the day with a well timed challenge.

Landry N'Guemo in the Celtic ranks was having a good game so far - snapping at the heels of Arsenal attackers and breaking up play with amazing consistency. Arshavin showed flashes of his brilliance but lacked the space to work his magic. It was in the 40th minute when he had the chance to run at the Celtic back four and even managed to get a shot away, only for all the pace to be taken out of it because of a partial block by Glenn Loovens. Brown then turned up with Celtic's first notable attempt on goal as his sweet strike nestled straight into Almunia's secure goalkeeping gloves. The breakthrough finally came in the 43rd minute. Fabregas' crack at Arthur Boruc's goal from a free kick took a wicked deflection from an on rushing William Gallas and curved past the helpless Celtic keeper to gift Arsenal the lead going into half-time.

The second half kicked off with Arsenal starting patiently, knowing that they had the vital cushion of an away goal and just needed to keep hold of the ball. William Gallas, fashioned the first chance of the second half as he fed Van Persie who shot narrowly wide of Boruc's goal. With the game drifting and Arsenal hardly ruffled, Celtic manager wrung the changes - Scott McDonald for Donati and Marc Antoine Fortune for an ineffective Samaras.

Celtic pressing forward to find an elusive equaliser worked in Arsenal's favour as they were able to find the space to play their brand of football. The signs were looking ominous for Celtic and the writing looked well and truly on the wall for the home side when their captain Gary Caldwell rounded off an imminently forgettable day with an own goal in the 71st minute. Abou Diaby (who had replaced Arshavin moments ago), created the opening as he skipped past a challenge from a Celtic player and then fed the ball to Clichy who sent in a teasing cross only for Caldwell to slot it past his own keeper. That sealed the night and in all probability the tie as well. Celtic were shocked and subdued with two goals that had ‘bad luck' written all over them. Their late charge was never a scare and Arsenal literally cantered past them in the remainder of the match.

Two players stood out for the Gunners through the length and breadth of the match - Captain Fabregas and central defender Thomas Vermaelen. Fabregas, who was a doubt before the start of the match, turned in a stellar performance and literally ran the show for the Gunners. He weathered the rough tackles from the Celtic players and stuck to his guns and in the process underlined his value as one of the most sought after players in world of football today. Vermaelen, who has signed from Ajax, seemed every inch the defender Arsene Wenger has for so long been craving for. His calm and composed duty at the back saw little threat from the Celtic attackers.

The scene now shifts to the Emirates stadium where Arsenal will host a wounded Celtic in a week's time. At 2-0 down, and against an Arsenal side that is in red hot form, Tony Mowbray's side will need to dig deep and produce an unforgettable performance to turn the tie in their favour and thus reach the Group stage of the Champions League. Even though, Celtic are up against it, stranger things have happened in football and Celtic, on their day could yet give Arsenal a night to remember.

Other Scores:

FC Copenhagen 1 - 0 Apoel Nicosia
Sheriff Tiraspol 0 - 2 Olympiakos
Politehnica Timisoara 0 - 2 VfB Stuttgart
Sporting Lisbon 2 - 2 Fiorentina

File Photograph copyright: Ryu Voelkel