Arsenal were the recipients of some great fortune in the Champions League play-off first leg at Celtic Park last week when they gained a two-goal advantage via a wicked deflection and an own goal by Gary Caldwell and Tony Mowbray was hoping that a little luck might come our way in the return match. 
of the unacceptable face of football
Unfortunately, with 27 minutes gone and the Celts still in the tie at 0-0, we had more misfortune when the referee was fooled by the blatant cheating of striker Eduardo who simulated that Artur Boruc had fouled him in the box. Referee Gonzalez pointed to the spot, the Celtic players raged and the contemptible little Croatian smirked at the TV cameras. Three nil down and, to all intents and purposes, game over.
"I haven't seen the re-run of the incident yet, so I can't sit here and complain about it," said Mowbray. "The referee gave it. If the pictures show it shouldn't have been a penalty, then so be it. We have to accept it and move on. The disappointment for us has been the nature of the first three goals in this tie, if it was a dubious penalty. But you can't deny that Arsenal, over the two legs, had more quality and deserved to go through."
"All of our players said there was no contact in the incident." he said. "But sometimes footballers say that in the heat of the moment. But I'll take at face value what the players are saying. The first goal was always going to be crucial tonight. If we had got it, you would have had a more interesting spectacle tonight. The fact Arsenal got it allowed their high-quality players to relax a bit more and play at their own pace. We had to try and apply pressure and when you play high up the pitch against such high quality players, you are asking for trouble. That's the way it panned out."
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger admitted that the penalty which effectively ended the tie should not have been given, but the man who has famously slammed cheats in the past refused to condemn his own player and in fact tried to make excuses for the loathsome con artist. "Having seen it again on television, it doesn't look to be a penalty," said Wenger. "But I must say we were always likely to score the first goal. We always looked in control of the game."
"I believe it wasn't a penalty, but I'm not sure if the goalkeeper didn't touch Eduardo with his right knee." said the Arsenal manager, desperately clutching at any semblance of an excuse. "After what happened to Eduardo with his serious injury, I am a bit cautious because he might have jumped out of the way as well. I don't think he would have complained if the penalty was not given."
"If it is not a penalty, I don't want it. But I do not go as far as to say Eduardo dived." said Wenger, not surprisingly. "Over the two games, Celtic were a bit unlucky in terms of the first goal being deflected in the first leg and then the own goal. When there is a technical difference between the sides, that makes it even harder."
Celtic will now await tomorrow's Europa League draw with interest and manager Mowbray firmly believes that his team will be on a level playing field with any English teams in this competition. "It is pertinent to say there are only four teams in the English Premier League of the quality of Arsenal." said Mogga. "I don't think there would be a gulf between our football club and the rest of the Premier League. Maybe we will get the chance to see that in the Europa League."