Time to get off Arne Engels’ back and remember why Celtic signed him

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The Celtic Star

·5 maggio 2025

Time to get off Arne Engels’ back and remember why Celtic signed him

Arne Engels played well enough on the day, his critics are too blinded by their own narrative to see that and to give the 21 year-old the proper backing. We’ll see an even better player next season as Arne makes his critics eat their words…

Arne Engels of Celtic celebrates at full time during the SPL | Premier League match between Dundee United FC and Celtic FC at Tannadice Park on April 26, 2025. (Photo by Ian MacNicol/Getty Images)

Arne Engels is these days a much criticised figure amongst an element of the Celtic support despite having had a decent first campaign in a Hoops jersey.

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Maybe it’s his huge price tag, but he’s more than showed that’s he’s a player with huge potential, and one who will only get better and better. He should be supported, he should be praised and not be regularly subjected to this constant and tiresome criticism that is both unfair and unhelpful. Dear knows what folk are expecting of the boy, but for me he’s done just fine and he’ll be an even better player next season.

Yesterday at Ibrox was another one of those days for the young Belgian when it seemed he could do nothing right in the eyes of his critics after a remark on co-commentary by the former Zombie player Scott Arfield.

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St Johnstone v Celtic, Scottish Cup Semi-Final at Hampden Park on 20 April 2025: Arne Engels Celtic. Photo Alex Todd IMAGO

However that’s not what I saw and for me Arne had a good game, and whilst not being outstanding he was one of our most competent performers, before tiring a little and being replaced by Paulo Bernardo.

Arne didn’t looked flustered in the pressure cooker of a Glasgow Derby and was always wanting the ball in the middle of the park, trying to play passes forward, and getting stuck in. Arne was far from ‘useless’ as Manu of his critics unfairly suggested on social media yesterday after the game.

Arne Engels is a terrific young player who had a decent game at Ibrox, it’s just a shame his critics are too blinded by their own pigheaded narrative to see that. Celtic bought potential, Brendan develops the potential, Celtic benefit on the park for a few seasons before that player reaching the top of his game is sold on for a big profit.

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Arne Engels celebratesSt Mirren v Celtic, Scottish Premiership, Saturday 1st March 2025. Photo: Vagelis Georgariou (The Celtic Star)

If Celtic spent £10m on a player already at the top of his game then there would little room for that improvement and little chance of doubling or trebling our money. Celtic previously operated at the £3m mark – look at the outcome of that in the summer 2023 window. If Brendan has managed to get the club to shop at £10m to make them £20m profit then we should back the manager’s judgement.

Arne Engels will be a star performer for Celtic in year two of his Celtic contract, of that I have no doubt.

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