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Gunners held at Celtic

SCOTTISH giants Celtic drew 1-1 with Arsenal at Parkhead on Saturday, while Everton, Wolves, Blackburn Rovers, Portsmouth and Aston Villa all suffered shock defeats - unlike big spending Chelsea who recorded a win at Crystal Palace.

Pre-season is now at its peak and many teams are fielding possible first choice line-ups ahead of the new season.

Arsenal did not field a full strength line-up, but will be happy with the run out in Glasgow.

Celtic, who also paraded a less than 100 percent side, took the lead early in the second half.

Young midfielder Liam Miller (pictured) grabbed the goal when he took a cross down on his chest and hooked the ball past new Gunners keeper Jens Lehmann, who will be disappointed to have let the ball through.

Arsenal came back not long after Celtic's opener - driven on by substitute and captain Patrick Vieira, who made his return from injury.

The goal came through Nigerian star Kanu who hammered the ball past Magnus Hedman into the top corner - to silence the sizeable home crowd.

Chelsea's new look side performed quite well at Selhurst Park and recorded a 2-1 win.

Finnish youngster Mikael Forssell put The Blues ahead after a wonderful turn and shot on the edge of the area, before a great finish from Dougie Freedman brought Palace level.

The game was decided by one of Chelsea's new boys when Cameroonian star Geremi curled home a trademark free-kick.

Wolves' terrible run in pre-season continued after they went down 2-1 at Coventry.

Dele Adebola and Calum Davenport secured the win for the home side, with Kevin Cooper grabbing a consolation late on.

The preparations for First Division new boys Wigan look well on course after an impressive 1-0 win over a full strength Blackburn Rovers at The JJB Stadium.

Scottish striker Lee McCulloch got the winner in the second half with a wonderful 25-yard volley which beat Brad Friedel off his right hand post.

Paul Merson inspired Walsall to a very good 2-1 win over local rivals Aston Villa at The Bescot Stadium.

Merson put his new side in front against his previous employers with a deft finish on the back post.

Villa came back and England man Darius Vassell smashed home from close range.

Walsall grabbed victory through substitute Gary Birch.

Villa's second team had a better day with a 4-1 win at Tamworth, with goals coming from Peter Crouch, Stephen Cooke and a Hassan Kachloul brace.

Preston handed another pre-season defeat to Everton, with Richard Cresswell heading home the only goal of the game in the second half.

Portsmouth, who were at full strength, will be disappointed after they went down 1-0 at Dunfermline Athletic.

Barry Nicholson`s second half strike proved the difference between the two sides.

Leicester City found themselves held to a 1-1 draw at Bournemouth.

Les Ferdinand scored a volley in the first half to put The Foxes ahead, but Neil Young produced a great strike to secure a draw for Sean O'Driscoll's side.

Birmingham were held to a 2-2 draw by Burnley at Turf Moor.

David Dunn and Geoff Horsfield bagged the goals for Steve Bruce's side, while Ian Moore and Robbie Blake replied for Burnley.

Manchester City proved far too strong for Oldham Athletic at Boundary Park, as Kevin Keegan's side romped to a 6-0 success.

Nicolas Anelka (2), Robbie Fowler, Paulo Wanchope, Shaun Wright-Phillips and new signing Trevor Sinclair got their names on the scoresheet.

Middlesbrough maintained their 100 percent pre-season record with a hard-fought 3-2 over Sheffield United.

Juninho scored his second free-kick in two games to put Boro ahead, before Szilard Nemeth doubled their advantage.

Michael Tonge then struck two wonderful long-range efforts to bring The Blades level.

Jonathan Greening won the game in the second half with a cool finish from the edge of the area.

Fulham were held to a 2-2 draw at SPL outfit Motherwell, with Louis Saha and Steve Marlet grabbing the goals.

Leeds' second XI produced a very good display at Saltergate as they beat Chesterfield 2-1.

Simon Johnson and Jamie McMaster pounced for Leeds, before Mark Allott pulled one back for The Spireites.

A young Tottenham side went down 2-0 at Aldershot.