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Arsenal 2-0 Celta Vigo
Two first-half goals from Thierry Henry eased Arsenal past Celta Vigo and into the Champions League quarter-finals for the first time since 2001.
The French striker seized upon a superb through-ball from Dennis Bergkamp to fire the hosts ahead on 14 minutes.
And Henry doubled Arsenal's lead with a predator's finish, when he latched onto Freddie Ljungberg's deflected cross.
Celta Vigo were out of the contest long before substitute Pablo Contreras was sent off in the 74th minute.
The teams had endured contrasting fates at the weekend, with Arsenal mauling Portsmouth 5-1 and Spanish side Celta Vigo losing by the same margin to Espanyol.
And they carried their respective confidence levels into the Highbury encounter.
The Spanish side squandered their early half-chances, while Arsenal scored from their first real attack.
Restored up front, Bergkamp swivelled on the edge of the area and fed Henry with sweet outside-foot pass.
KEY MOMENTS
14 mins: Henry latches on to a superb Bergkamp pass to score
34: Henry doubles the hosts' lead
Arsenal's top goalscorer applied a cool finish from a tight angle as he charged into the penalty area.
After Jose Ignacio and Mauricio Pinilla had fired wide for the visitors, Bergkamp laid on the next guilt-edged opportunity, freeing Ashley Cole, who was off target.
But the hosts put the tie beyond reasonable doubt moments later.
A quality move started by Robert Pires ended with a tantalising Ljungberg cross and a poacher's finish from Henry for his 29th goal of the season.
Arsenal did not have the first half all their own way, but keeper Jens Lehman was only tested by ambitious long-range strikes, which he dealt with comfortably.
And Henry missed a golden chance for his hat-trick just before the interval, when Pires unselfishly laid the ball on for his French team-mate, only for Henry to miss wide.
Pires should have scored himself soon after the re-start, but a heavy touch presented the ball to Celta Vigo keeper Pablo Cavallero.
And Fernando Caceres went close with a header at the other end.
But Arsenal by then were playing exhibition football and only a high tackle by Cavallero robbed Bergkamp of a goal to cap his fine performance.
Spaniard Jose Reyes was given a run-out against his compatriots for the last 20 minutes.
And he had an immediate impact when Celta Vigo Contreras saw fit to bodycheck him and was sent off for a second yellow card.
By then though, the tie had been well won and Arsenal join Chelsea as England's representatives in the Champions League last eight.
> Chelski manage to scrape-through having done fook-all on the night!
Surely, had the game remained 1-0, United would have scraped through also?
> Although they looked the part on the night, and have done for much of
> the season, I'm not too sure if Arsénal really can go
> all-the-way or not...
Well, they have as much chance as anyone else... and seem to be in better form than several of the others, too.
> Certainly, you have a very talented team. But, take away those
> eleven-men, and what, exactly, do you have left?
Well, you can say the same about United. In fact, with a few injuries, you're suffering - because what's been brought in isn't (yet) up to standard.
Arsenal have had injuries/suspensions with most of our defence this season, yet remain unbeaten.
> Where has your defence gone, for starters??
Erm... pardon? How can you ask where the defence of an unbeaten team has gone?
> If you're lacking in one department, it's the experience of having
> played at this stage in the Champions' League, previously.
So, what's United's excuse? Lacking in one deparment, but experience got them ... ?
> Still, I can't see Chelski's march going on any further than yours!
Chelsea scrape through on an own goal, Arsenal cruise, and you see them going further? Hmm, that makes sense!
Still, I will be cheering on Chelsea in every game, until/unless they meet Arsenal.
We have two teams really so we are an excetion to the rule.
Although neither of them will ever win anything.....
> Although they looked the part on the night, and have done for much of
> the season, I'm not too sure if Arsénal really can go
> all-the-way or not...
> Certainly, you have a very talented team. But, take away those
> eleven-men, and what, exactly, do you have left?
Did you mean this?
Obviously you are right, take away Arsenal and your left with nothing. But it works for everything.
Man United - Man United = 0
Chelsea - Chelsea = 0
Newcastle - Newcastle = 0....
> Wakka, what's the point in copy and pasting a load of text from a
> website?
As below.
> You could have just gave us the score, and YOUR views, instead of 200+
> paragrpahs of the BBC's.
>
> ;)
I didn't see the game but next time i'll just give you my views.
wa-hay!
:D
luck of the draw now. easy coasted win for us. hope we can make it through to the final. winning this would be a big sign.
More comfortable in the end than I expected.
Chelsea would be nice in the draw to cut down on travelling. Failing that, Monaco.
But anyone will do - I'm just happy we're through!
;)