Gary Caldwell own goal for Arsenal away to Celtic

It's probably not the most controversial thing in the world to mention that Arsenal have had problems over the last six years or so with goalscoring, and particularly with getting enough men in the middle. We've all seen how they launch an attack down the wing, a dangerous cross comes scything in, and it's either easily cleared or goes right through and out the other side because there's at most one red shirt trying to compete with two or three defenders, right?

The annoying thing about this is that it's the kind of thing that doesn't usually make it to highlight videos. It often doesn't result in an attempt on goal, so there's no reason why anyone should include it if they're squeezed for time, and there were a few killer examples in the Celtic match before Arsenal went 2-0 up. I could really use one, because I'd like to be able to contrast their usual play with what I'm about to talk about.

I've heard it said that both Arsenal's goals in that match were lucky. Which is true, to an extent. However, I also believe very much that you make your own luck. If you play well and get into good positions, then good things will happen sooner or later, and Arsenal's second goal is a very good example of this.



We pick it up as Diaby beats Hinkel. The critical point in this move is right here, and it's what's happening off the ball - there are five Arsenal players in the Celtic half and all of them move to join the attack, which pays off quickly.

Arsenal now have a five-on-three advantage, and those are always good odds. Clichy pushes up to create the overlap and Diaby plays it to him.

Now, if it's only Diaby, Clichy and van Persie involved in the attack, all that needs to happen is for the three defenders to slide across and Caldwell can get wide to make the cross difficult at the very least. They can't, because if they overcommit to their right they're going to leave a man unmarked on their left.

That's the situation just before the cross; here it is just after it leaves Clichy's foot.

This is a strong, balanced position. He can drill it low across the six-yard box with two targets to aim at, or pull it back towards the penalty spot. He drills it low...

...and Caldwell has no option but to play it because Bendtner is goalside of his man and waiting to slot it home, and we all know what happened next. Arsenal got into a very strong attacking position and it paid dividends for them.

And that's why that goal was scored.