Goal changes the game

By Boris Mellor
August 18 2009

The first 25 minutes of Saturday's game at Goodison gave no indication of the rout that was about to follow. Denilson's goal seemed to take all the heart out of Everton, and then the result seemed inevitable. When Arsenal played Manchester United, in the second leg of the CL, for the first 7 minutes they were all over them.

Gibbs then made his horrendous error and from then on in Manchester United dominated the game.  Manchester United went on to play Barcelona in the final, for the first few minutes United dominated; then Barcelona scored and United were as lame as their defeated Semi-Final opponents. It might be stating the obvious but goals change games.

It is difficult to preview a game when you don't know what the team line up is. Celtic theoretically are not as good a team as Everton, however this is a knockout competition and Parkhead is somewhat of a fortress.  True Barcelona won there, but most European teams, including Manchester United, have not. Indeed Man Utd lost their group game there 1-0 in 2006, that wasn't fatal, but in a qualifying round it could be.

I would take the intimidating atmosphere stuff with a pinch of salt, last year Arsenal faced up to far worse in Turkey and came home with a great result.  The bigger concern is not atmosphere, but conceding an early goal. It is also necessary to score an away goal as Celtic will have that opportunity in the second leg.

Wenger is well aware that too many goals were conceded last season, and he claims he has worked on the problem.  He refused to confirm if his solution was developing the pressing game, but it is hardly a secret as that was the tactic used at Goodison Park.  That tactic must be used at Parkhead.

Of course the tactics used will depend on the personnel and if, as it seems likely, Denilson is not available, and it is Diaby who replaces him, then tactics may well be modified.

There are also doubts over Sagna and Fabregas, but it is increasingly likely they will play.  Wenger refused to admit this was a difficult tie and played it down by saying that FC Twente was a very hard game away.  I think this is Wenger code for I don't think you are very good and I am not bothered.

I hope that tonight's result proves him right, a clean sheet and a one goal lead would do very nicely.