Much Edu as Arsenal reign in Spain
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Edu scored twice for Arsenal.
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VIGO, Spain -- Robert Pires' strike 10 minutes from time gave Arsenal a 3-2 win at Celta Vigo in the first leg of their Champions League second round clash.
Earlier Brazilian midfielder Edu had twice put the Gunners in front, only for Celta Vigo to equalize within 10 minutes of each goal.
Celta's own Luis Edu -- another Brazilian -- scored first for the home side and Jose Ignacio grabbed their second.
Both Celta goals came from set-pieces and Arsenal appeared to have paid the price for lax defending until Pires linked up with fellow Frenchman Thierry Henry to stroke the ball past Celta keeper Pablo Cavallero.
Arsenal's win puts them on course for the quarterfinals and also keeps them in contention for a possible treble of trophies. They currently top the English Premier League and are still in the FA Cup.
Poor defending
They went in front on 18 minutes when Edu bundled the ball home from a freekick following poor defending from Celta.
Luis Edu struck back with a well-placed header following a corner from former Gunner Silvinho but Edu's second was unstoppable, a brilliantly-placed curling shot into the top corner from the edge of the box.
Ignacio struck back again for Celta, prodding the ball into the net from another corner, but Pires' strike ensured Arsenal took home the win they deserved.
"We showed our mentality again," said Henry. "We always wanted to go forward and score goals."
Arsenal's victory was also their first in seven visits to Spain under coach Arsene Wenger.
"The team played well," said Arsenal's Spanish striker Jose Antonio Reyes. "We got what we wanted and we're all very happy."
But Celta striker Igancio refused to concede defeat in the tie, even though Arsrnal are yet to lose at home this season.
"It's not impossible to win over there. We've nothing to lose," he said.
