Andrey Arshavin happy after Arsenal beat Celtic
Arsenal Football Club midfielder Andrey Arshavin has declared himself pleased with his side’s build-up to the English Premier League kick-off next week. The North London club triumphed in a pre-season friendly tournament after drawing 1-1 with AC Milan on Saturday and defeating Celtic Football Club 3-2 on Sunday to lift the Emirates Cup at their Emirates Stadium.
Arshavin declared himself satisfied with his club’s victory over the Scottish Premier League runners-up. He told his official website: “We won deservedly 3-2 against Celtic, although the match was one of two different halves. From the beginning of the first time we seized the advantage and scored two goals, with the first in only the third minute of the match.”
Although he was pleased with his team’s overall performance, Arshavin believed his side may have become complacent after going three goals up thanks to strikes from Carlos Vela, Bacary Sagna and Samir Nasri. Celtic managed to scrape back into the match after scoring twice, with only Arsenal goalkeeper Manuel Almunia’s superb form preventing them from leveling the score.
'Fun game'
The Russia international said: “After the score became 3-0, I do not know what happened to the team. Maybe we calmed down somewhat, maybe the fans of Celtic urged the team forward, but they really emerged in the second half to create some good chances. The Scots were able to implement only two of them though. In principle, the game was fun. The tournament is completed now, and with it the next stage of preparation for the season. The work continues. Ahead of us there is a trip to Poland (to face Legia Warsaw). And after that weekend the Premier League begins."
Arsenal managed to get off to a flier as they took the lead after just three minutes. Man of the Match Jack Wilshere played in Theo Walcott on the right from the edge of the penalty area. Walcott was then able to square a pass across the face of goal for Mexican international Vela to send the ball into Lukasz Zaluska’s net.
Placed shot wide
The early going saw Walcott, Tomas Rosicky and a long-range effort from Thomas Vermalen all test the Celtic goalkeeper, with Zaluska being forced to make some good stops. One of Celtic’s new signings, Vela’s international team-mate Efrain Juarez, managed to find himself in Arsenal’s penalty area after 27 minutes of action, but placed his shot wide of the post. Celtic continued to push forward, with winger Shaun Maloney’s run on goal halted by an excellent last-ditch tackle by Gael Clichy and left-back Charlie Mulgrew’s free-kick being punched away by Almunia.
Arsenal quickly soaked up the pressure, however, and almost came close to doubling their advantage when Rosicky’s corner found Wilshere in the penalty area. The 18-year-old hit a volley with his first touch that had Zaluska beaten, but the youngster’s strike found the woodwork. However, the Gunners were able to extend their lead just before half-time. Rosicky sent in another fine delivery and found Sagna, whose sweet left-foot finish put the hosts further ahead.
Nasri was introduced as a substitute at half-time and took just five minutes to send Arsenal 3-0 up. After picking up the ball 30 yards from the goal, he played a quick pass exchange with Walcott and slotted home.
Back in the game
Despite Georgios Samaras missing a penalty, Celtic were able to pull themselves back into the game. However, a 72nd-minute goal from new striker Daryl Murphy and a goal from Ki Sung-Yueng after 83 minutes were not quite enough to level the tie and Arsenal lifted the trophy.
In the match against Milan, new signing Marouane Chamakh made an impression by scoring the opening goal when Arshavin set him up after 36 minutes, but Alexandre Pato equalized for the Serie A outfit with 14 minutes left to play.
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