Thoroughbred Henry leads Arsenal home in a canter

WHILE Manchester United were pipped at the post and Chelsea rather stumbled into the Champions League quarter-finals, Arsenal cantered towards the last eight with the look of potential winners.

Arsenal 2 Celta Vigo 0 (Arsenal win 5-2 on aggregate)

The result was entirely predictable as a thoroughbred Arsenal side simply overwhelmed Celta Vigo at Highbury, although there was certainly no need for any steward's inquiry.

The Gunners were overwhelmingly superior to their Spanish opponents, with Thierry Henry a class apart as he put his side out of sight well before half-time.

Scoring his first after just 15 minutes, Henry became only the fourth player - after Raul, Ruud van Nistelrooy and Alessandro del Piero to reach 30 Champions League goals. And this was only his 65th game in the competition.

His second of the game arrived just 20 minutes later, taking his tally for the season to 28, even without including his Community Shield strike.

Only a string of fine saves by Pablo Cavallero denied him the hat-trick he richly deserved, while Celta even suffered the indignity of ending the game with 10 men as Arsenal sailed home.

Arsene Wenger's side may have often flattered to deceive in this competition before, but they now need fear no-one in the quarter-final draw.

After all, despite having initially struggled in the group stage, they have now recorded five straight Champions League wins, equalling Manchester United's English record in this competition.

The comparisons with United were difficult to avoid, given the way in which Alex Ferguson's side had frustratingly failed to hold onto their lead against Porto the night before.

Porto were, however, a distinctly superior team to Celta Vigo, who had conceded 14 goals in their previous four games and are languishing in the relegation zone of La Liga.

At least the Galicians, trailing 3-2 from the first leg, attempted to take the game to Arsenal in the opening stages. However, the Gunners were soon kick-started into action by the enduring vision of Dennis Bergkamp, who at 34 was preferred to the promise of Jose Reyes.

It was easy to see why when the Dutchman expertly shielded the ball before leaving his markers mesmerised as he twisted, turned and then released an exquisite reverse pass for Henry to burst onto.

The Frenchman, who had nipped back onside just at the right moment, swept his shot underneath the body of Pablo Cavallero and Arsenal were well into their stride.

Jens Lehmann was still called upon to tip Peter Luccin's shot over the bar, while Jose Ignacio stabbed the ball wide from just inside the penalty area.

Celta's task was nevertheless magnified when Silvinho and Luccin were soon forced off by injury.

Arsenal were able to raise the tempo seemingly at will and while Ashley Cole skewed his shot across the face of goal from Bergkamp's next incisive through-ball, it was not long before Arsenal increased their lead.

This time it was Freddy Ljungberg who was the creator with a driven cross which flicked off the head of defender Fernando Caceres.

Although the cross eluded Robert Pires, the danger was by no means averted. For Henry was standing unmarked at the far post and, having controlled the ball with his chest, he sidefooted it past Cavallero.

Lehmann was twice called upon to save fierce shots from Gustavo Lopez, but Arsenal retained the ability to switch through the gears.

While Edu headed over the bar, Henry was only denied his hat-trick on the stroke of half-time by Cavallero after he looked poised to cap a fine move involving Patrick Vieira, Ljungberg and Pires.

The match was nevertheless over as a meaningful contest, with Arsenal indulging in a virtual exhibition game in the second-half as the "oles" resounded around Highbury with each measured pass.

Still the chances came only for Cavallero to foil Pires and Henry, while Bergkamp lobbed the ball over the bar.

Lehmann was called upon to claw away an effort by Fernando Caceres but Celta's misery was completed when substitute Pablo Contreras was dismissed with 17 minutes left for his second bookable offence.

Arsene Wenger was able to introduce Jose Reyes, Kanu and Gilberto Silva in the closing stages as his side coasted home.

Where United had failed, Arsenal had prevailed. The treble is still very much on.

ARSENAL: Lehmann, Lauren, Campbell, Toure, Cole, Ljungberg, Vieira, Edu (Silva 69), Pires (Reyes 69), Bergkamp (Kanu 76), Henry.

CELTA VIGO: Cavallero, Velasco, Sergio, Caceres, Silvinho (Contreras 21), Borja, Luccin (Jesuli 29), Jose Ignacio, Mostovoi, Lopez (Vagner 70), Pinilla.

Ref: Pierluigi Collina (Italy).