Tonight, Celtic aim to do the practically impossible and overturn a two-goal deficit away at Arsenal, and so book themselves into the group stages of the Champions League.
Having read various web sites previewing this game, there's not one blogger out there that gives Celtic anything more than hee-haw chance of getting through, let alone get a result.
Let's be honest and get this out of the way: Celtic will not win this game.
Arsenal are a side brimming with confidence, having got off to a flyer in the league. The 2-0 defeat of Celtic at Parkhead was sandwiched between a 6-1 demolition of Everton and a 4-1 destruction of Portsmouth.
Celtic have not exactly been shabby either in the goal scoring department. The 3-0 win at Aberdeen was followed by a seven-goal thriller against St. Johnstone, so, like Arsenal, Celtic are going into this game on a high, despite being two goals down before a ball is even kicked.
The form comparisons are all very well, and admittedly, Portsmouth are a poor side this season and Everton are having a 'mare of a time of it as well, losing to Owen Coyle's Burnley, but neither of these two sides should be easily dismissed: on their day, they'd give most SPL sides a run for their money.
And even without captain Cesc Fabregas, Arsenal are simply awash with talent: Van Persie, Eboue, Arshavin, Gallas, Denilson, Clichy. The list goes on.
So, what is the point of this post?
The point is this: when the final whistle goes on this game, I hope that none of my fellow bloggers write scathing articles about the state of Scottish football. God knows we've had enough of those already this week.
Celtic will still be in Europe, they'll still be flying the flag for Scottish football. Arsenal are not Artmedia Bratislava. Arsenal are no FBK Kaunas, or FC Vaduz or Sigma Olomouc. There will be no shame to suffer, no crisis to have caused, and no country to have let down.
It's just one team, beaten by a better team. That's football. That's all it is. No more, no less.
Alright Chick?
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