Gunners shoot down Bhoys

The Hoops held their own for much of a frantic first half but in the 43rd minute Cesc Fabregas' drive from 30 yards took a wicked deflection off William Gallas' back to send the ball past Celtic keeper Artur Boruc.

The Gunners all but booked their passage in to the next round in the 71st minute when Celtic skipper Gary Caldwell put the ball past Boruc in his attempt to cut out a Gael Clichy cross.

Only Barcelona and Dinamo Moscow, in the previous round, had beaten Celtic in the previous 36 European matches at Parkhead. But Arsene Wenger's side enjoyed a comfortable second half to leave them in a commanding position ahead of next week's play-off second leg.

Arsenal looked happier in possession from the start, finding space in front of Celtic's back four. Andrey Arshavin was causing problems when he drifted in from his position on the left of Arsenal's three-man attack, and Fabregas and Denilson were always looking to break forward from midfield.

Arsenal were playing the ball through Celtic and it needed a last-ditch block by Caldwell on Robin van Persie to stop the Gunners profiting from one such move, with the offside flag raised before Arshavin fired home the rebound.

Celtic looked like they would comfortably survive until half-time but luck was against them after Caldwell was penalised for a foul on Fabregas 30 yards out. The free-kick was rolled short to the Spaniard, whose 30-yard drive bounced off the back of Gallas and spun into the opposite corner to where Artur Boruc was heading.

The game almost drifted beyond Celtic within a minute of the restart after Landry N'Guemo miscontrolled a simple take in the centre circle. Arshavin carried the ball to the edge of the penalty box before slipping the ball outside to Van Persie but the Dutchman shot past the far post.

Celtic struggled to create chances but Gallas made another crucial interception when he cut out Marc-Antonie Fortune's low cross as his fellow substitute Scott McDonald waited at the far post.

Abou Diaby replaced Arshavin and immediately played a key role in Arsenal's second goal. The substitute burst forward and set up Gael Clichy for a low cross that was turned home by the outstretched boot of Caldwell.