I'd Loove to be paired with Arsenal

Aug 24 2008 By Gavin Berry

CELTIC new boy Glenn Loovens would love to be put on a collision course with best pal Robin Van Persie by landing Arsenal in this week's Euro draw.

And the defender reckons the Gunners star will be out for revenge after losing a bet the last time the duo crossed swords.

Loovens and Van Persie were childhood friends and struck a wager when Cardiff City played Arsenal in the FA Cup two years ago.

Despite the Parkhead stopper being on the losing side at Highbury he came up trumps on his side bet after the Arsenal striker failed to find the net.

And he hopes to shut out his old Feyenoord team-mate again if Celts draw the Gunners in the Champions League.

The s3million Dutchman said: "I lived just one street away from Robin as a kid.

"We played from Under-14 level right through to the Under-21s with Holland.

"When Cardiff faced Arsenal we had a little bet. If Robin scored I had to buy him dinner and if not he had to treat me.

"It was disappointing to lose 2-1 at Highbury - but I had a nice meal.

"We had a bit of banter during the match and he tried to nutmeg me which I told him never to do again.

"But to meet each other in the Champions League would be fantastic.

"We'd have another bet and there's no way Robin's getting his money back."

Loovens played as a teenager for Feyenoord in a 2-0 Champions League defeat by Dynamo Kiev in 2002.

He could be drawn with the Ukrainian side again and would also relish taking on Dutch giants PSV Eindhoven.

Glenn said: "That match in Kiev was so noisy - there were about 80,000 people with rattles. But it was a great experience and it helped me improve.

"It would be nice to face PSV as I made my first-team debut against them.

"Jan Vennegoor of Hesselink was playing for them and we drew 1-1."