Panathinaikos (0) 1 - 3 (0) Arsenal

Panathiaikos, Wednesday 9th December 1998

UEFA Champions League.

Preview

Well, as we all know we're out of the competition before this match is played. The match still has some importance, but not for us! If Panathinaikos beat us by enough goals, they could screw things up for Lens.
And beat us they surely will. We're without loads of our best players, we don't care too much about the result, and this is a notoriously hard place to go and play (that seems to apply to all Greek clubs).
So, it's all set up for a classic shock win by Arsenal reserves!
update 08/12/98 (Tuesday)
We've had some more names added to the missing list, Overmars and Keown the most striking. Here's the full list of absentees:
```
Suspended:  Lee Dixon, Ray Parlour
Injured:    Tony Adams, Dennis Bergkamp, Patrick Vieira, Emmanuel Petit,
            Nigel Winterburn, Martin Keown, Marc Overmars, Gilles Grimandi,
            Remi Garde.
Ineligible: Fredrick Ljungberg, Fabian Caballero.
```
Given the importance of the match to us (!) and the importance to Lens of our putting on a good show, it is not surprising that there have been suggestions that this injury list may be somewhat "creative" on Wenger's part.
Only Seaman, Bould, and Anelka remain from the first 11 (and Bould isn't even in that, strictly speaking).
The good news is that Wenger has said he'll sign his new 4-year contract today (Tuesday). (update: he has now done so. see NewsReel).
See also AFCi preview (doesn't add much)

Panathinaikos (0) 1 - 3 (0) Arsenal

Panathiaikos, Wednesday 9th December 1998

UEFA Champions League.

This win was marred by the tragic death of a 16-year old Greek fan, who fell backwards from the 2nd floor of the stadium onto the concrete outside

scorers:  Sypnaewski          og (Asanovic)
                              Anelka
                              Boa Morte

Arsenal:
          Seaman
Grimandi Upson Bould Grondin
Vivas Mendez (M.Black 77) Vernazza Boa Morte
   Wreh Anelka

A terrific win for the youngsters against all the odds. Panathinaikos had a near full-strength side (Eric Myklund the only noteworthy absentee) and needed a win to give themselves a chance of qualifying, whereas Arsenal were woefully under-strength. Perhaps the presence of the youngsters, wanting to prove themselves (especially after the Chelsea thrashing) actually gave us more chance in a relatively meaningless game like this.

It didn't look quite like this in the first half, as Arsenal had to ride their luck a few times despite having the better of the opening few minutes. Panathinaikos strikers missed a few chances that would have been easier to put on target, and Seaman made one excellent save.

The goals all came in the second half, Mendez kicking it off with a cracking free-kick which deflected cruelly off the ex-Ram Asanovic. They equalised a few minutes later after being given too much time and space in the box. Seaman flapped a bit (but apart from this incident had a good game) and the striker was left to roll the ball into a gaping net, even though there seemed to be plenty of red shirts around.

Anelka took us back in front with his first European goal, cutting across the edge of the area and clipping a shot just wide of the keeper. Did he mean to blast it, or did he mean to trundle it along the ground? Who cares? Boa Morte sealed it with a brilliantly taken goal with 5 minutes to go.

So, meaningless for the rest of Europe, but encouraging signs from the Arsenal youngsters. This should go a long way to getting them back on track after the humiliation of the Worthington Cup.

Arsenal finish 3rd in the table, below Lens because of the results between the 2 sides despite having a better overall record (see Champs League page). Wenger made an interesting post-match observation when he said that Panathinaikos had been a lot better at Wembley, "It proves that teams were lifted by playing at Wembley". Teams other than Arsenal, he means. Let's hope this experience means that it isn't tried again. I can't be the only one that feels that we'd probably be through if we'd played at Highbury.

Meanwhile, back in the Premiership, Chelsea were beating Villa at Stamford Bridge. This takes the Blues into 3rd, with them and Man Utd still having a game in hand (see table).

Quote of the week:

"Arsène's word is worth more than many people's signatures"( David Dein)

Rupe.

Other reports

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