We have forgotten, it is true, Youssef Al-Arabi. This was taken care of by Diego Martinez who, for some reason, decided that the Moroccan striker had already entered the category of “veterans”. The Spaniard clearly thought the Arab was in for…a pension for that, and he stuck him in Reintes’ position. While El Kaabi scored, the “crime” committed by Martinez was not seen. At the same time, while Jovetic did not provide the solutions that the Spaniard had hoped for, he would be expected to understand that he did not deal well with a footballer who had scored a large number of goals in his career. El-Arabi, one of the biggest killers in the club’s history, scored 89 goals for Olympiacos in five years.
He scored the latter again for Ceres in the tournament’s premiere in Karaiskakis. Later Martinez forgot about him and finally lost. With the end of Martinez came the logical return of Al-Arabi to Olympiacos. After two matches with the second team, something he himself requested to maintain his rhythm, Carlos Carvalhal did the obvious. He brought back to the team the 37-year-old Moroccan striker who, within a few minutes of coming on as a substitute alongside Baxka Topola and Panserraico, proved how right the Portuguese was and how wrong the Spaniard was.
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Two goals were already scored by Al-Arabi, which entered Serres with a score of 0-0, in the 61st minute, and in the 62nd minute he gave a goal ready for a pipe, and in the 65th minute he sent the ball into the net from 11 steps in a penalty kick. Which was won by the very good and distinguished Masuras team as well. Al-Arabi’s repertoire might have been greater had Tsagarakis and Perakis not denied VAR in the 88th minute the chance to score again. An excellent assist from Masoura found him in front of Hovan, passed him and scored into an empty net and Thimiani stopped the ball with his hand.
What will happen next, no one knows. It is clear that El-Arabi is also in the… west of his career, but from being on “jet ball” to being a luxury solution off the bench, the difference is huge. Carvalhal knows that El-Arabi is a player who can make a difference with one move, while soon with El-Kaabi’s trip to the African Cup, he will need him active with Jovetic. Joseph was keen to show him that he “still had it.” How could a great footballer not have it?
As for the double in Ceres and the 2 on 2 in Carvalhal? “Gold” if we put PAO and AEK gels into the equation. At -1 of a very good PAOK this year is Olympiacos in the court classification. He will be the first on the field.
But let’s not say the same thing, in order to win the championship this year, Olympiacos must also beat… VAR. But above all, he must be the one who has to strengthen and cover his gaps, avoiding (as he did in Ceres) “childish” mistakes and we will see the rest on the grass.
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