Gracious Celtic manager Tony Mowbray refused to lament a controversial penalty which set Arsenal on their way to the UEFA Champions League following a 3-1 defeat at Emirates Stadium.

Croatia striker Eduardo converted from the spot after 29 minutes after he had gone down under a sliding challenge by Celtic goalkeeper Artur Boruc, which all but killed off the tie.

Emmanuel Eboue made sure there would be no comeback for Mowbray's side with a neat finish after 53 minutes before substitute Andrey Arshavin slotted in a third. Celtic midfielder Massimo Donati volleyed home a superb consolation goal during injury time.

You cannot deny that over the two legs, Arsenal had more quality and deserved to go through,
Celtic manager Tony Mowbray.

Mowbray said: "I have not seen a re-run of it, so I cannot sit here and complain about it. However, you cannot deny that over the two legs, Arsenal had more quality and deserved to go through."

The Celtic boss continued: "The first goal was always going to be crucial. If we had got it, you would have had a more interesting spectacle. The fact that Arsenal scored it allows their real high quality players to relax a bit more and play at their own pace.

"When you try and play high up against such quality players, you are asking for trouble. That is the way it panned out - but I could not question the desire and effort of my team."

Despite the disappointment of tonight's defeat, Mowbray insisted Celtic would be able to hold their own against all but the leading sides of the English top flight. He said: "I would suggest there are only four teams in the English Premier League of the quality of Arsenal.

"I do not think the gulf between our football club and the rest of the Premier League would be there - maybe we will get the chance to show that in the Europa League. I genuinely believe Arsenal are a team who can win this competition, but at the moment Celtic are not in a position to compete with the English sides who make the semi-finals of this tournament year in and year out."

Mowbray added: "You have to take the positives out of the way we played in these two matches. Hopefully we will be more than a match for whomever we draw now and I expect us to compete very well in the Europa League."

Celtic appraisal
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger felt Celtic had put up a brave challenge, saying "I believe that Celtic in the two games were well organised, did show some great mental qualities, they never gave up at any moment, and for me, they are a good side.

"Over the two games they were a bit unlucky because in the first game, the free-kick deflected, they were always one behind the score and when there is a technical difference between the two sides, it makes it even harder."

Arsenal now head to Manchester United on Saturday in confident mood after maintaining their 100 per cent start to the new campaign. However, midfielder Aaron Ramsey picked up a knee injury in the match and may not feature, while Wenger feels captain Cesc Fabregas, out with a hamstring problem, may be "short" for the weekend.

"We are now in the top, top league in Europe, with all the big names," he said. "Our team tonight was an average age of 23.9 years. That means if we can get out of the group stage, then in six months we can be even stronger.

That is what we want to focus on, to continue to improve our team play, the speed of our game and show that we have made big improvements ,
Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger.

"That is what we want to focus on, to continue to improve our team play, the speed of our game and show that we have made big improvements come Saturday at 5:15. I am happy to go to Old Trafford because it is the first big, big test.

"You want always to have a high level of confidence when you go to Old Trafford, we have that at the moment. For us it is most important to recover physically because Manchester United did not play in the League Cup tonight."