Wenger: 'Celtic need maestro'

Liam Miller opened the scoring for Celtic against Arsenal

Arsenal manager Arsene Wenger believes Celtic need a midfield playmaker for their Champions League campaign.

Celtic boss Martin O'Neill has long earmarked a replacement for Lubo Moravcik, who left before the start of last season, but so far has not made any new signings during this summer.

Wenger was impressed by the Glasgow side after his FA Cup winners were held to a 1-1 friendly draw at Celtic Park but highlighted the home outfit's lack of a magician in midfield.

"They didn't get to the Uefa Cup final for nothing," Wenger said.

"They have many good players with physical qualities.

They don't have a man in midfield who can really produce that killer pass Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger

"They work very hard and are very strong and that's why they beat so many teams in Europe last season.

"But I wouldn't say they were too creative."

With Henrik Larsson injured, John Hartson still recovering from surgery and Chris Sutton suspended for the opening of the league campain, Celtic played with Scotland Under-21 international Shaun Maloney as their lone striker.

"We didn't have a lot of room to play against them in midfield, but I never thought they were too dangerous at any given moment," said Wenger.

"They work hard defensively and have a lot of good players in their side, but they don't have a man in midfield who can really produce that killer pass."

Kanu equalised for Arsenal at Celtic Park on Saturday

O'Neill, though, was excited by his side's performance and has predicted a big future for goalscorer Liam Miller.

The young midfielder scored a brilliant opener before Kanu's equaliser and the Celtic boss is hoping his years of injury problems are now a thing of the past.

"I don't want to burden him with big things at this stage," said O'Neill.

"The three years I have been here, he has been injured a lot of the time.

"But if he can stay fit now for a few months and gets stronger and physical then he is going to make inroads into the team because he has the ability."

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