Arshavin says Arsenal simply too good for Celtic
Russian forward Andrei Arshavin said his Arsenal team were in a different class to Celtic as they strolled into the UEFA Champions League group stages with a 5-1 aggregate win.
Arshavin made the comments on his official web site after the Gunners` 3-1 win at the Emirates Stadium on Wednesday night. The former Zenit St. Petersburg star scored the third goal a minute after coming on as a substitute.
"After bringing a 2-0 victory back from Glasgow we only needed to play our game and go into the next round," the Russia captain said, adding that Celtic "are more a combative than a skillful team. They lost to us deservedly; after all, we are the classier team."
He said it felt good to get his first goal of the season, especially coming off the bench.
"As soon as I went onto the field, I scored," he said. "Substitutes always want to show that they want to play, that they are no worse than those who are on the field. And now I am very happy"
Arshavin and his teammates are already looking ahead to Saturday`s game against Manchester United, whose manager Sir Alex Ferguson was in the Emirates crowd on Wednesday.
"Tomorrow we will train, and on Friday we will fly to Manchester," Arshavin said.
Arsenal have been the most impressive of the Premier League`s so-called big four so far this season, with a 6-1 opening day thrashing of Everton followed by a 4-1 home win over Portsmouth.
Manchester United, traditionally slow starters, scraped past Birmingham City 1-0 before losing 1-0 to another of the promoted sides, Burnley. But the three-time defending champions got back on track with a 5-0 thrashing of Wigan last weekend.
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