by Joe McHugh
The smugness and contempt flowing from down south since Tuesday’s match has been very unpleasant and patronising.
I’m no defender of the SPL, Celtic represent themselves not the SPL on the park, but the comments flowing after Arsenal’s 2-0 win really needs addressing, and remembering.
None of the gloating has come from Arsenal, they are a proper football club with largely the right values and attitudes although it does seem very strange that for the last four years or so there’s barely been an Englishman anywhere near their first team.
The smug sarcasm from down south over the last few days are very similar in tone with the comments that greeted Henrik Larsson’s scoring achievements.
CRITICS
If the King of Kings brilliance was solely within Scotland the critics would have a point but Henrik, whilst playing in the SPL scored at every level he played at.
He scored in the Uefa Cup, he scored in the Champions League. Whilst with Celtic he scored at Euro 2000 and 2004 and also at the World Cup in 2002, after Celtic he scored at the World Cup in 2006.
I don’t think that any of the English golden boys have been able to match that sort of achievement.
PROCLAIMED
After Celtic Henrik didn’t consider the self proclaimed greatest league in the world as he moved to Barcelona, not many of England’s finest have been given a contract from Barcelona.
Best of all as London prepared to welcome the European Cup for the first time Henrik was sent on to win the big cup for Barcelona.
Despite the wonders of the Premiership and the combined riches of Arsenal, Spurs and Chelsea the European Cup has never been paraded through London.
BARCELONA
Sol Campbell’s first half header in the Stade de France looked like ending that unpleasant statistic with Barcelona making no impact against the wonderful Arsenal defence. Ronaldinho, Samuel Eto’o, Ludovic Guily and Deco had given their best when Frank Rijkard turned to a substitute that had spent the best years of his career in the ‘backwater’ of Scottish football.
Surely now the trophy was finally London bound, with half an hour left to play the mighty Barcelona were forced to turn to a 30something former Celtic player about to return home to Sweden where surely the football would be of a standard where he would be more comfortable.
The King of Kings had other ideas and although he didn’t score himself, he did set up goals for Eto’o and Juliano Belleti to deservedly win the trophy for Barca.
That season was the closest that Arsenal have ever come to winning the big cup.
PERSPECTIVE
As their smug cronies crow about their win over Celtic and the superiority of all things English perhaps some humility and perspective should intervene but those qualities have rarely been associated with the English when it comes to sport as they continue to regard all things outwith their beloved Premiership as strictly second class.
It’ll probably be a long long time till the Celtic support is treated to another Larsson-like talent, that’s why he was so revered and celebrated during his time at Celtic and beyond.
After helping Barcelona to the European Cup he answered an SOS from Manchester United and helped steer them to the Premiership as well as progressing in the Champions League.
HELSINGBORGS
Henrik being Henrik however wasn’t for hanging about, once his agreed deal was up it was choorio to the glories of the Premiership and back to Sweden with Helsingborgs, turning his back on the run-in to the English season despite the pleas for him to see the season out.
It’s unlikely that there is a Larsson in the current Celtic squad, capable of turning Wednesday’s tie Celtic’s way, but whatever the outcome of the match at the Emirates Stadium Celtic’s name is stamped firmly on the history of the games greatest trophy.
There was 1 Englishman on the pitch during the Celtic – Arsenal game…..
Danny Fox
I thought he played pretty well, except for one awful corner.
I thought Celtic were terrific, hassling and denying space to Arsenal. Only RVP, Song and Vermaelen stood out for the Gunners. You completely nullified Arshavin.
But unfortunately, you didn't make any chances, until McDonald came on, and he made a pig's ear of everything he did.
He scored against 10 tired men as he came on late in the game. Well done.
As your living in the past try not to over indulge on heroin and shortbread and by the way larsson isn't and has never been fit to lace bergkamp et 'al's boots stick that in your crack pipe and smoke it
king of kings forever, didn't score actually he set up 2 goals, try reading whats actually written, and if professional players are too tired to deal with a substitute introduced after 60 minutes then they aren't gr8 players eh? I'll take shortbread and heroin over morris dancing and being arrogant arseholes in general anyday. your gonna win f*ck all. hail hail.
king of kings forever, didn't score actually he set up 2 goals, try reading whats actually written, and if professional players are too tired to deal with a substitute introduced after 60 minutes then they aren't gr8 players eh? I'll take shortbread and heroin over morris dancing and being arrogant arseholes in general anyday. your gonna win f*ck all. hail hail.
As an Arsenal fan I seem to have missed out the gloating. It's a shame the Celts came up against the Gooners in top form, but there's only one man to blame for that – Platini.
Good luck next Wednesday, but I don't think you'll get very far. You're welcome to join us for a drink after the game in one of the many decent boozers near Ashburton Grove.
I'm certain you won't cause the bother that the Rangers 'fans' seem to cause every time they come to London.
What a bizarre post.
England shouldn't be smug because Celtic once had a good Swedish player?
Good as Laarson was, he was not in the same class as Bergkamp, Cantona, Ronaldo, Giggs, Beckham, Henry, Pires, Vieira, Fabregas to name but a few.
Sorry, but the facts are that the SPL is broadly equivalent to the English Championship. In fact, many of the SPL are probably League One standard. Not meant in a derogatory way, it's just the way it is. A good Swedish player who left Celtic years ago doesn't change that.
Ljungberg was better.
Talking about chips on shoulders. Whats the point in being envious of the Premier League? What a waste of energy.
And please stop carping on about the lack of Englishmen and remember only 3 Scots started the game for Celtic, so you can't really use that argument.
What is Celtic?
I don't recall seeing any Arsenal blogs gloating about the greatness of Henry and Sylvinho when they were part of the Barcelona team that took apart Man United.
It is rather strange what people get smug and contempt about isn't it?
I think you still hurting a little. Lets be honest Arsenal where going in favorites. We have players that have been playing together for a couple of years now playing under the same style and management. Celtic are playing a new style with a new manager for less than two months. Its going to take time and patients for it too work, you are on the right path with tony.
Sorry, don't agree with this blog at all. I have seen no sign of 'smugness' from 'down south' at all, I have only seen respect for Celtic and how they and Arsenal played.
The author should be ashamed of him/herself for trying to stir things up when there is no need. He/she would have been much better praising the game in general and suggesting a way for Celtic to play in the second leg to pull those two goals back.
But maybe he/she is too smug to do that.
The smugness has been from umpteen radio observors, various newspapers and especially Clive Tyldssey or whatever he calls himself on TalkSport Wednesday night. His contempt comes as no surprise.
Arsenal as a club were very professional in all their dealings and comments, the crowing comes from the hangers on who in a years time will be trying to come to terms with another glorious defeat at the World Cup.
Interesting to see the hurt that this little reminder is causing some Gunners, losing the European Cup to a side containing a former SPL player heading to Sweden and into retirement must still be sore.
I don't recall Bergcamp, Robert Pires or any other Premiership Galacticos turning a Champions League final in quite the same style as the King of Kings.
Look up Henery's after match comments if you are still in any doubt about Larsson's ability.
None of the gloating has come from Arsenal, they are a proper football club with largely the right values and attitudes
Think some of The Gooners didn't read that bit of the post. Heh.
The majority of what I have read has been full of praise for Celtic but IMO Celtic never turned up and were disappointing.
We had at last 5 players that had shockers and while I have no complaints about the result I have complaints about how we played.
Good luck to The Arse for their Euro adventures this season.
Oh, and I saw Man U Tv had a program about Larsson the other night.
Says it all really.
YIC
Lordofthewing
just seem tio have missed all the gloating you refer to, we arsenal fans who watched the game know that we had a sterner test on tuesday than we are going to get all season, in fact i would go as far as to say that it is precisely the same sort of hackery you're indulging in that might have wound you up. there are 180 mins to this tie and i for one am looking forward to another fantastic game / fight on wednesday next week.
Well, I still did not pick up on any smugness, but maybe it depends from which side of the fence you are when you are listening to a report/discussion ?
As for
"None of the gloating has come from Arsenal, they are a proper football club with largely the right values and attitudes"
which is then followed up by
"Interesting to see the hurt that this little reminder is causing some Gunners, losing the European Cup to a side containing a former SPL player heading to Sweden and into retirement must still be sore."
do I sense a touch of bitterness there after Tuesday nights result ?
You are quite correct is saying we gunners are still a little sore at losing to Barcelona in the final. Who wouldn't be sore after losing a UCL final?
But "losing the European Cup to a side containing a former SPL player heading to Sweden and into retirement" has nothing to do with gunners being sore at the result.
Arsenal lost to Barcelona, not Larsson. And as much as you might try to argue the point, the record books will show that Barcelona beat Arsenal 2-1, not Larsson beat Arsenal 2-1.
On that point I will leave you, but one thing I will say before I go is that Larsson was a great player.
Still not quite sure what point you're trying to make Joe? Arsenal aren't certian of winning the tie yet, and I haven't see the gloating. If you're referring to Talksport then that's what you would expect, although I wouldn't call them Arsenal's biggest fans.
In addition to your comments about next summer, I know there are a number of Gooners who regard Arsenal as a bigger proposition than any national side, so won't be so upset when the invitable happens.
Anyway you're getting plenty of hits for your comments!
I don't think that many Celts are envious of the Premier League, look at what has happened to Leeds Utd, Newcastle and Nottingham Forest, that fate lies around the corner for others that are so relient on their Sky fees.
The quality of the Premiership can be judged by Stoke City.
Two seasons ago they were a hopeful Championship side, now they are fairly comfortable in the Premiership.
Could Celtic live with Bolton, Wigan, Portsmouth and Fulham?
Without doubt.
A competent organised side can survive quite easily in the Premiership. Outwith the top four there isn't much quality, maybe Spurs, maybe Man City but although Arsenal's win at Everton might have been a bit freaky I don't think that in any strong league the fourth placed side from one season would score six away at the fifth placed side.
Arsenal have great players and are a model club with many sensible supporters that know their stuff and live in the real world.
This post was aimed at those in traditional or old fashioned meeja who've dusted off their cliches to laugh off at Celtic and sneer at Tuesday's result.
They were the same types that rubbished Larsson at every turn even though he never lost a single international match to England.
He was a very, very special player, his greatness developed at Celtic, he re-established Celtic as a force and won't bat an eyelid at anyone that questions his ability.
Henry, Ronaldinho and Messi know Larsson's quality and the respect of your peers is all that matters to professionals.
Enjoy the game on Wednesday, hopefully Celtic will be able to put in a Moscow type 90 minutes and put on a show although qualification is most unlikely.
At the end of the day, one simple fact stands out from all.
The only reason English football is regarded as any good is because of money and Sky TV funding it.
Scotland is at a disadvantage ecause of this, so Celtic only losing to a deflection and own goal is no disgrace.
Considering the fact we have a very good record against EPL teams in recent years I don't think any English side should be gloating.
We'll go to the Emirates and win simply because Arsenal will leave gaps and we will punish them as we are a better as a counter attacking side as we showed in Moscow when we could have won by 4 or 5.
Don't worry Bhoys, Let the people sing!