Where are the Arne Engels critics today? Taking a well earned break ahead hammering the 22 year-old, mostly because of the transfer fee that Celtic paid for his in the summer of 2024…
Arne Engels is something of a controversial figure among the Celtic support mainly due to the burden of his record breaking £11 million price tag, and whilst it’s fair to say that he hasn’t hit the heights expected, he’s still contributing to the side, which he displayed last night by putting in an impressive display in the 2-1 win over SK Sturm Graz.
Our midfield as a unit put in an excellent shift, but non more so than Arne who ran the show in the middle of the park and looked every inch an £11 million player. No wonder his critics have taken the day off.
Arne’s quick thinking led to Colby Donovan assisting Liam Scales for all important leveller, and minutes later he whipped in a delicious delivery from a corner kick to allow Benjamin Nygren to head in the winner.
It wasn’t just his goal contributions, the Belgian was a constant outlet on the ball, and his nonstop energy was a key contributor to our success on the night.
Arne has been unfortunately overlooked in recent games, due to Brendan’s determination to utilise Benjamin Nygren in the midfield alongside Reo Hatate with Callum McGregor playing deeper than the two number eights.
But last night with the Swede putting in an eventful shift on the right hand side of the attack, Arne brought a better balance to the Celtic midfield, he added power, athleticism and better delivery from dead balls, his corner found Nygren’s head for the winner.
It’s obvious that this is the system Brendan should stick with going forward, with Arne Engels staying in the starting XI, beginning at Tynecastle on Sunday.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
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The Engels bashing was all part of the narrative pushed by the board to their media pals to the happy clappers to deny Rodgers transfer funds saying his judgement on players is poor. And the fools bought it. I would rather have 5 Engels in my team than half the money they have squandered on useless project players over the years
I really don’t know what game you were watching on Thursday! But it wasn’t the same game I was watching! Engels couldn’t control his bladder! Never mind anything else! This is the worst money we have ever spent and if you are being honest, you’d admit it!
Between him and Trusty, they were two disastrous decisions! Adam Idah was a far superior buy than both of them! He should NEVER have been sold!
The truth is Engels is honestly no more than a £1M player. Rodgers was taken as the absolute mug he is with this one! It’s no wonder the board are reluctant to give him money now! He simply has no clue how to use it!
I’ve said this here many a time that Nygren shouldn’t be playing in a midfield 3. When you only have 3 in midfield and can be outnumbered you need your 3 to be mobile and full of energy. We saw it last year, the amout of times Calmac, Engels & Hatate ran back when we lost posession and snuffed it out. That was the midfield that done so well in the UCL and league.
I get Rodgers statement about needing goals but Nygren only looks interested when we have the ball, and if we loose it in his area and he does try to get it back it either fails or he gives away a free kick.
Even last night especially in the first half Nygren was hopeless. He has only performed well against the lowest teams in the league and done nothing in Europe.
Also, it wasn’t just Engels delivery that was really good last night it was his work ethic, running off the ball and tracking back and challenging. That was what was missing from the midfield all season and should be our starting 3 from now on like it was last season.
Joe. You’re an embarrassment. Hideaway and shite man.