The public will support a government decision to strike even if the strike is not a one-off like the 1981 IAF strike that destroyed Iraq's Osirak reactor.
Anelka slipped but regained his footing to lay the ball off to Essien, whose 20-yard strike took a slight deflection off Emmerson Boyce on its way to goal.
The striker displayed impressive acceleration with only Tzoras to beat, but his 12-yard strike deflected off the Panathinaikos keeper's left leg and out for a corner, much to Park Chu-young's frustration.