As usual when wrestling with the match write up I was looking for the “word” that captures the victory at Hull. The keystone of text on which the rambling edifice depends, the one single expression that you, dear reader, will retain as you reflect on the five minutes you invested this morning on the PA site.
What exactly is the ‘word’ for that performance at the KC yesterday ?
I played with a few; Polished – professional – competent – refined – strong – organised – sophisticated – cultured – cultivated – developed – powerful – authoritative – razor-sharp – distinguished – well oiled – commanding – superior – unassailable – talented – clever but none quite fitted the combination of speed, skill and intelligence that characterised our performance and our victory against the Tigers yesterday.
And then I saw it – PROFICIENT
The combination of art and science I had the pleasure of watching yesterday was proficient, a performance in which all the elements came together and meshed perfectly.
It started at the back and the opportunities that the home side had Szcz dealt with, he commanded the box, punched or caught the high balls and saved what occasional goal bound shots. The back four deal gave very little away, no stumbles or errors and a welcome clean sheet after a few games I which we have not been at our defensive sharpest.
Ah the midfield – Ramsey, Ramsey, Ramsey …………………………. I can say no more – my superlatives have failed. Santi vigorous, Ozil cleverer than a fox, and Mikel in charge across, the middle, dental problems notwithstanding.
And our strikers , yes yes I know we play one man up but yesterday it seemed to me that Olivier and Poldi buzzed about in front of and behind each other, pulling the defenders out of shape, both strikers irrespective of their official; job title. Finest finisher in the club award ? Give it to the smiling German.
And a fine cameo from the Ox, my goodness you can expect some severe competition for Cup final places.
Proficient – yes that is the word.
Not sure what to make of Hull, damage limitation when it went to 0-2. I anticipate a brighter effort on the greenfields of Wembley.
Enjoy your Easter Monday wherever you are. I am off to Stratford for Henry IV Part 2 with Number One daughter.
“Uneasy lies the head that wears a crown.”
This morning we have Andrew @anicoll5 to thank for our little sunshine bus trip
Positively Arsenal 
David
So would attribute our success in the last three games as opposed to the previous five to getting one of our best center backs back in action in addition to getting main players in the midfield also back from injury.
But I do agree that POLDI has reached his ” zone” and is playing with super authority. In the next few days a couple more will be back in the fold and I see us navigating the last few games of this season with PURPOSE, AUTHORITY AND HUNGER. and next year , under the guidance of the current managment, the sky is the limit.
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Seems like JOEL has got himself a league championship with the scum. As HUNTER calls them.
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(0(. I just want to know one thing HUNTER 13. how the hell do you smuggle a box full of anchovies into a packed stadium to dump on the olympiacus manager and bench. Greek league. The craziness gets more read worthy every season.
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hahaaa…that was paok salonica..remember them? they beat us at highbury with vryzas making a fool of dixon… olympiacos fans are called “gavros” which is the smallest fish…piraeus port…fish etc..a derogatory term. and before the game some paok fan went and threw bags of gavrous on their bench..genius. look they are hated cause they have been fixing the league the last 20 years or so to get the champions league money and then they come out calling themselves fair champions.
greece gets one auto-qualifier and the second has to go to play offs. due to that every other team has suffered crimes from referes. three years ago, when pana had djibril cisse and gilberto silva plus karagounis (fulham) plus sebastian leto ( liverpool) we went to their ground for the title decider and we were losing 1-0 in first half. we turend it around but they cancelled our second goal for offside when our scorer was covered by FOUR!!! 4 !!!! olympiacos players…..if that wasnt enough they scored the winning goal to make it 2-1 in the 94th minute which was offside…hilarious scenes….
then their fans invaded the pitch and started chasing our players and beating them up…their president marinakis who has to face court for fixing scandals in greece came to the cameras saying ” today we tought ethos and civility” utterly taking the piss while at the dugout and told cisse ” i screwed you”…cisse has sued him obviously. last week they got a taste of their medicine by the team of the north who are investing big money and get slaughtered by olympiacos mafia …it was due to happen…..the whole of the country hates them.
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as for smuggling things in the ground….its not really smuggling when there is barely any search…… hehe.. after a while the police gives up..what can they do? stop and search everyone? impossible….they wouldnt dear because if it escalates they will mourn lost colleagues…its that terrible.
the match i was describing above
note the penalty on 01:48..not given
note the legitimate winner we score on 03:05 ….they called offside …pmsl !
note their “winning goal” which is the actual offside ( pantelic) on 03:33
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cunts! now you see why i wanted manure to stuff them! you cant imagine how ive suffered when wenger brought his 3rd and 4th team to play those cunts…understandably he doesnt care cause we already qualified all the times weve faced them in europe… ..
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you know how many olympiacos players were part of the national team that won the euro 2004? ….0…..NONE ….. it was all panathinaikos and some from a.e.k. …players who werent allowed to win titles in the league and were called losers…and they went and won the european championship…lol… against portugal, spain, russia, france, czech republic ( nedved plassil, rosicky koller) and portugal again…. but in greek league? SLAUGHTERED !!!
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oh and a lesson to arsenal fans…pana went for the “expansion”…gilberto silva , djibril cisse sydney govou karagounis, katsouranis ( euro champions) ninis (wonderkid) let ( liverpool) …spent lots of money for two years…..then this game took place ( the one in youtube video) and our owners fucked off disgusted….now panathinaikos plays in a 13k stadium (our old , outdated ground) with kids frrm academy and players from european second and third divisions and no licence for europe as ex players our chasing the club for their money under contract….our budget this season was barely 2 million euros…careful what you wish for. ( rangers, leeds, manure soon)
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Incredible. the manue of Greece. Better get JOEL OUT OF THERE ASAP….
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. sorry it wasnt dixon vryzas made a fool of ..but tony and steve…ahahhahahaha ..that 3 mins before the end, and lest not talk about saragosa….yet our fans moaned about our 20 yearolds not having the guts to finish the job…its ridiculous
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David Hills, I think your analysis is a little simplistic. Just because Poldi has scored 4 goals in 2 games, might be no more than a flash in the pan, so I would not be so quick to anoint him as our saviour. He has been poor and disappointing at times this season, so I would want to see more consistency from him as he has not really delivered as much as his ability would suggest.
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Passenal,
Simplistic indeed. And a side swipe at Giroud I feel.
Also wtf is “overplaying”?
Can you help me?
Anyone?
Were we over playing for the 3 goals on Saturday?
I hate the shit tripe cliches people churn out.
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Hah. Corruption any. Sounds like a raw deal all around for PANA mate. I think I’ll adopt them as my Greek favorites. That was an interesting and incredible run to the European championship . That’s for damn sure. The quality of attacking football was majorly lacking but the defensive organization and discipline was unparalleled. I’m still amazed they went all the way considering the teams they played against. I don’t begrudge them winning it. No one unlocked them.
ARSENAL should send out some of our youth to PANA to earn their coller and gain experience. you would be in seventh heaven if that happened. (0(
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See? There’s the rumour about Poldi being sat by Wenger because he’s out of favor. Come on now. We all know he was carrying an injury last season and he was out for most of the start of this season with a hamstring. Wenger didn’t suddenly discover his prowess the other day.
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heh goonerkam…it sure is dirty business. easiest way to make 20-25m a year. get a team..install your people in control centres…and watch it coming….platini is scum. any wonder they have the worst record in champions league….they get found out. useless.
as for the euros…here the times /guardian etc called it the death of football but they hail mourinho…hypocrites? jealous? clueless?…all of them three together…
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GoonerKam
I’m in full agreement with you on that subject. Injuries to key players can derail a title challenge. It’s a pity we’ve lost such quality at key points of the season. I hope we can address the injury issue next season. Although I will say, even with the quality we’ve lost, we still have quality players who are highly regarded and have reputable international pedigree. Therefore we shouldn’t have lost by the scorelines we’ve been subjected to at certain grounds, several times in the same season. Injuries don’t explain that.
Passenal.
I would like to use a few statistics if I may? LP has only played 23 times this season. Granted, he was injured for almost four months, but on the flip side he has been left on the bench eight times. He has been used as a substitute eight times, mostly in the last 10 minutes, He has been substituted 15 times. and he has only finished the full 90 minutes 3 times.
Yet he has still scored 12 goals. From approx 30 shots.
He’s been underused for a player of such quality and impact would you not agree?
Please don’t accuse me of being simplistic and then so loosely explain ‘Just because Poldi has scored 4 goals in 2 games, might be no more than a flash in the pan’ or ‘He has been poor and disappointing at times this season, so I would want to see more consistency from him as he has not really delivered as much as his ability would suggest’.
He’s obviously got the ability. He’s shown that for club and country. He hasn’t just scored 4 in 2 games for the club and he hasn’t had the game time either to show his ability he’s shown for country. Has he?
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in basketball we have 6 european titles. the crown jewel. clubs in greece/spain are athletic clubs i.e they have multiple divisions football/basketball/waterpolo/volleyball/track&field/boxing/tennis etc etc ..in total about 600 titles in all sports. puta barca ! bertomeu is another cunt.
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GAINS
that’s what I thought too. That POLDI was picking up some injuries and he wasn’t able to play in some game and couldn’t play the full 90 mins in others. I think AW is able to see and know who he needs where and for how many minutes. He can not and should not have to explain the technical and tactical analysis that goes inside his mind to all players and the fans. No manager should be obligated. I think POLDI is borderline. He still has the ability to take on his marker and still pacey enough to be effective played out left. I also think he is doing a damn decent job when in the box.
With all the dynamic players we have up front who the heck knows which on of POLDI or OG are the main focal points of the attack. And I love it. Let the defended crap themselves trying to double team two players at the same time. That to me leave two free players with lots of space to exploit. Enter AARON & SANTI & ROSICKY. ( cry’s for JACK & THEO) yah , me too FINS.
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What’s up folks!?
Excellent win yesterday, we really looked like the early season Arsenal. What a difference Ramsey and Ozil make.
I know im late, but i am especially proud of the FA Cup win. Not vintage Arsenal but it the boys refused to lose. We showed a lot of heart. Let’s win it!
Arsenal!
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GEORGE
I think David means we should take more shoots on goal from the edge of the box and take advantage of goals via deflections ala manIOU. personally I never cared much for goals like that although some would say a goal is a goal is a goal.
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we now have a baseball team also…hahaa “Panathinaikos has been largely successful throughout its history, as its teams and individual athletes have won a total of 497 officially acknowledged titles (as of March 2008) in both national and international competitions. “,,, george how do you like my propanaganda ? hihih
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“He can not and should not have to explain the technical and tactical analysis that goes inside his mind to all players and the fans.”
and how will pedro and co know if he is fit enough to manage or spend the club’s money or bring arsenal to the top ?
fssssstt zwbbboing …..
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I know im late, but i am especially proud of the FA Cup win
devotion!! welcome paul-n!!
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Excuse me Pedantic George?
I think I now understand your post, I first commented on a few weeks ago regarding your ‘disagreement’ elsewhere and conditional support. i can now see why you get in such situations. I also see why you’re called Pedantic. Interesting but the pieces are coming together.
it’s not my style I’m afraid to engage in such matters, I’m long retired and long in the tooth to exchange expletives online. i’m just trying to find things to keep me occupied since my wife passed away, god bless her soul, but while you’ve engaged, I feel your dismissive nature of my comment on LP is a swipe at LP?
Which puts is in the same boat. Only using different paddles? I prefer one striker, you prefer the other but they both play for Arsenal so where does the hostile disagreement come into play?
FYI, I like Olivier Giroud. I see no reason why they can’t play together. It does mean LP has to play more, which is my main point, is it not? No swipes, no expletives. I’m just making an observation on a player i like who I don’t think gets the game time. I didn’t expect to be tied to a chair, blindfolded and have my nipples electrocuted as a result of such observation.
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DAVID
those game were very hurtful results and games to witness for me too. I don’t put the shiitty and Everton in that category but I think against pool chelski, at some point, the crew would have realized enough to go into a little damage control and keep the damn shoreline respectable, at least .
But attack, attack and attack we did and don’t you know. 🙂
that’s the ARSENAL WAY. what can you say. Hay PAUL N. missed you during the game..
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Evening all and back from the show !
My threehalfpenceworth on the Poldi and Giroud conversation is over the past few games we seem to be playing with more of a forward ‘line’ i.e. Not just Olivier ploughing a lonely furrow on his own up front and on the rare occasions he does win the ball off the centre backs there is no one in 50 yards to knock it down to.
Poldi and Giroo playing closer together, Aaron too offering another target in the box that, even if the ball does not come to him, creates confusion and space.
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HUNTER 13
wow . That immersive PANA but baseball?? Ffs what the f••• do Greeks know about baseball. hahaha.
DAVID
we might pinch them but we certainly don’t electrocute. There are law against that you know.
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HUNTER 13
as a a duly appointed PANA propagandist and agent do you welcome me to the circle??
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Ffs what the f••• do Greeks know about baseball. ah …we all played in fields as kids with sticks and tennis balls… naturals … its n our blood…lol.ahahaha next: ice hockey…
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Of course I can only offer fifth or sixth favorite since they come after. ARSENAL , LAKERS, RAMS , BRUINS & ANGELS. take it or leave it. :-]
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yes of course !!!! watch how we score 3 inside their shithole ground after they were full of themselves for beating manure 2-0 ..dreaming of last 8 and such…we brought them down to earth…
love it!
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My sense of history is tickled by what appears to be the imminent sacking of Moyes.
Just like Wilf McGuiness Moyes was the chosen one by Sir Matt who took over a squad of ageing players and failed in his first season.
The Mancs then turned to a dynamic young manager Frank OFarell who came in with great fanfare but could not halt the decline – my money would be on Frank de Boer
Before finally turning to that old arsenal favourite Tommy Doc
They were relegated but stormed back a better team, attacking football, lots of young players
Well if history is going to repeat itself the Glazers better get on with it – Docherty turned 85 last month
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Goonerkam.
I wouldn’t swap the passing game for any other football. Like I observed, I feel we need more upfront to finish the chances, otherwise it looks like we are overplaying the passes (Pedantic George and his tripe cliches), but overall we have the best game in the league by far. It’s so easy on the eye. Some of our technical players are worthy of the entrance fee.
Although, yes in some games, we have to learn to ride out the storm before we attack, attack, attack as you so put it.
We can go to Bayern Munich, the best team in the continent and we can get a great result, yet we go to other grounds and we seem to get it wrong and it shouldn’t happen given the players and the experience we have. We should know better, I’d like to say we are not good enough and I’d like to blame the injuries but i know we are better than that, which makes it so disappointing.
If we win the FA cup and finish in the top four once more, it’s been a wonderful season. In the end nobody will remember this year for the defeats. In my experience when your team tends to win a trophy, everything else is soon forgotten. It’s always known as the season you won a trophy.
Alas, it wasn’t my intention to get caught up in such conversation, It’s way past my bedtime. Goodnight and thanks for the exchange everyone.
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hay COLL
nice synopses of the game in today’s post . Well done.
The word I came up with was PURPOSEFUL.
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Yeh, hunter. An excellent response to our disappointing performances.
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HUNTER
that video angers me . Highway robbery In plain daylight.
Next ice hockey?? (0(
COLL
thanks for the history. Do you think they might get relegated in the next couple of years.
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I mean the first video you posted.
Goodnight David.
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Kam, helping to take care of 3 little ones under 4, my friend. Time consuming to say the least.
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our proper response will be next season i think….it would have been too much for me to win it in my first year back ..id end up in mental hospital painting walls 2003-2004 =2013-2014 = row 13, 13+1 epl.and all sorts….
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hmmmmmm maybe id get the chance to play fm together with the faria in his white “uniform” and beat him obviously…. in all leagues..
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come on diego simeone !! ….3-0 terry trying to mark villa…muahahah
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It’s a joy all the same.
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Sorry David but “a striker in the box who can score without requiring 5 attempts.” seems like you are saying Giroud need 5 chances and that’s hardly complimentary.
Now , if you knew me ,as the others do, you would know that I’m a huge fan of Podolski and I too think he is a better”striker” than Giroud. .But overall Giroud contribute equally as much to the team.
The “overplay” thing irks me no end.
Sorry about your wife.
Please dont take my curt response as agressive. I’m a pusssy-cat really.
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PAUL
yah. Taking care of little ones is tough work . And fun. Enjoy man. Before you know it they will have grown up.
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hey goonerkam …look ….
http://www.olympiacos.org/en/article/22020/eric-cantona-becomes-member-olympiacos
ahahah cunts
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Hahaha. A pussy cat that can’t turn into a puma when needed and turn a normal man into a pretzel with his soft techniques. that our blogmaster. The always diligent, word master and never say die GEORGE. a traditional and virtual bow to you. goodnight.
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Eric ” the karate kid ” c•••Ana. what an ego on that guy but also an iron clad self belief and iron will. Him and oly•••••, match made in heaven. I wonder why non of our players ever karate kicked one of our groaners in the chest in this past five years. Or even say something derogatory in an interview.
Can’t buy class and they have the best example to follow. AW.
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le groan = freakipedia
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Jeezzzzzz, in that photo the owner, Erik both look tired , worn-out and overweight. (0(
HUNTER
are you trolling the enemies . Com sight. Again.
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Or freaks r us . = le moaned
Goodnight mate.
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