Bhoys boss salutes top Gunners

GRACIOUS Celtic manager Tony Mowbray refused to lament a controversial penalty which set Arsenal on their way to the Champions League following a 3-1 defeat at Emirates Stadium last night.

Croatia striker Eduardo converted from the spot in the 29th minute after he had gone down somewhat lightly under a sliding challenge by Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc, which all but killed off the tie.

Emmanuel Eboue made sure there would be no comeback for Mowbray’s side with a neat finish after 53 minutes before substitute Andrey Arshavin slotted in a third.

Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati salvaged some wounded pride in stoppage time with a stunning volley in off the post from Andreas Hinkel’s right-wing cross.

Mowbray said: “I have not seen a re-run of it, so I cannot sit here and complain about it.

“The referee has given it, but if the TV pictures show it should not have been given, then so be it. All the boys thought there was no contact, but we have to accept it and move on.

“However, you cannot deny that over the two legs, Arsenal had more quality and deserved to go through.”

The Celtic boss continued: “The first goal was always going to be crucial. If we had got it, you would have had a more interesting spectacle.

“The fact that Arsenal scored it allows their real high quality players to relax a bit more and play at their own pace.

“When you try and play high up against such quality players, you are asking for trouble.

“That is the way it panned out – but I could not question the desire and effort of my team.

“I would suggest there are only four teams in the English Premier League of the quality of Arsenal. I do not think the gulf between our football club and the rest of the Premier League would be there.

“I genuinely believe Arsenal are a team who can win this competition, but at the moment Celtic are not in a position to compete with the English sides who make the semi-finals of this tournament year in, year out.”

Meanwhile, opposing boss Arsene Wenger admitted Arsenal had been somewhat fortunate to see Eduardo win that controversial penalty.

“From outside I must say it looked a penalty, but having seen it again on television, it doesn’t look to be a penalty,” the Arsenal manager said.

“But I must still say that we were likely always to score the first goal because Eduardo had a great chance before the penalty and we always looked in control of the game.

“I believe really that it was not a penalty but I am also not sure that the keeper didn’t touch him with his right knee, having seen it again. I do not want a penalty which is not a penalty, but I do not go as far to say Eduardo dived. He went down, for what reason I do not know. But I don’t think he would have complained if the penalty was not given.

“Is it acceptable? I never asked in my life any guy to dive to win a penalty but sometimes the players go down because there is no other way to escape the tackling of the keeper. Sometimes they dive.

“We got a penalty (against us) two years ago in the quarter-final of the Champions League (at Liverpool) that made the difference when (Ryan) Babel dived, nobody ever apologised to us, it was a blatant dive and nobody spoke about it.”

Wenger felt Celtic had put up a brave challenge.

He said: “I believe that Celtic in the two games were well organised, did show some great mental qualities, they never gave up at any moment, and for me, they are a good side. Over the two games they were a bit unlucky because in the first game, the free-kick deflected, they were always one behind the score and when there is a technical difference, it makes it even harder.”

Arsenal now head to Manchester United on Saturday in confident mood after maintaining their 100% start to the new campaign.

However, midfielder Aaron Ramsey picked up a knee injury and may not feature, while Wenger feels Cesc Fabregas, out with a hamstring problem, may be “short” for the weekend.

“I am happy to go to Old Trafford because it is the first big, big test. You want always to have a high level of confidence when you go to Old Trafford, we have that at the moment. For us it is important to recover physically because Manchester United did not play in the League Cup.”

ARSENAL: Almunia, Sagna, Gallas, Vermaelen, Clichy, Eboue (Wilshere 72), Song Billong, Denilson, Diaby (Ramsey 61), Eduardo (Arshavin 71), Bendtner.

CELTIC: Boruc, Hinkel, Caldwell (O’Dea 46), Loovens, Daniel Fox, Maloney (Flood 61), Donati, Scott Brown, McGeady (Naylor 61), McDonald, Fortune.

Referee: Manuel Gonzalez (Spain).