Just a small piece as Im knackered and need some sleep!! Athens was really nice. The food was fantastic, go there if you get the chance. Having done most of the tourist sites before from previous trips, most of the Arsenal lot wanted to see the Olympic complex. it was really disapointing as the whole thing was fenced off as they are doing building work!! Talk about maximising tourist potential...... We got to the stadium early with no problems, the tube there is great - very clean, runs on time and has air-con!! What more could London want. The stadium is intimidating, fences topped with barbed wire surrownded us and our terrace had loads of riot police in it. There were about 400 of us I'd guess, although many faces I nor other regulars didn't recognise so a think quite a few tourists took advantage of English football being played there. The game was good. I think we did well and played better than many European away games. For once we seemed to have a purpose. As for their goals, well the first wouldn't be repeated in a million years, the goal was a lucky shot and spectacular at that!! The second was awful marking by Edu. For the Lehman loathers, go and have a look at the replay and honestly tell me Jens was purely at fault for both goals. He wasn't. The greek fans once the game got started were as per usual, a disgrace. They pelted us with coins and bottles, no surprise as it's well known what they are like, but still amazing that the police confiscate all our coins and yet let them go into the ground with coins....... The stadium is very intimidating and their fans can sing. The end terrace seemed to be moving as one several times. As for the result, well I would of taken a point at the airport and so am fine with the result, a pity PSV won, but thats football. We now have the home games to win and get us through, which we should do. There are two lots of photo's as Ive realised I didn't ever put up the Rosenborg photo's!! Whoops!! Anyway, here are both lots - enjoy, Now Im just looking forward to Sunday, Rick Rosenborg v Arsenal Photo's Panathanaikos v Arsenal Photo's
Great stuff Rick! Thanks again for all the photos and stories. You must spread some Reputation around before giving it to rickbreese again. Sorry bud!
No probs, sorry I didn't put it up sooner, I had made a point of getting the Pic after you mentioned him to me after all!!!
nice pics now i know why players clap for their fans there arent that many devoted fans that go to every single one of their games are there? just looking at the photos id love to go to a game
On my reckoning and talking to others, there about 60 people who go to between 98% - 100% of the games. That includes home, away, and Champions League. If you add in the pre-season in Austria that number goes down to 25. Generally people like Wenger, Dein etc recognise us and so make sure the players give us a bit of time re pics, autographs and acknowledging us. The players are very good to the fans in my opinion, the club not so. If you ever manage to make it over here, let me know and Ill try to help with a ticket.