A rubber match isn’t, as the casual reader might suppose, an extremely poorly designed item for lighting one’s pipe. It is in fact (according to Wiktionary) “A sporting event at the end of a series in which the opponents are tied in terms of events won and lost.”
Hence we have the term ‘dead rubber’ coined to indicate the antithesis of this phenomenon. This, many would argue, is the appropriate term to apply to tonight’s fixture between Bayern Munich and Arsenal.
With the first half of the tie so effectively settled in favour of the German side there appears little point in getting overly excited about the return leg. It’s an argument with which it’s difficult to argue. Especially when one factors in the awful run of form Arsenal is trying its best to overcome.
I’m not going to attempt to sugar coat it, the side is shorn of confidence, making poor decisions all over the pitch and playing as if they expect to lose. It is never a particularly edifying sight watching your favourite team struggling like this, and I’m not interested in any of the excuses I’m sure are being bandied around.
The current malaise is almost certainly temporary, the players are not suddenly incapable merely because collectively they cannot find their feet. The amount of poor decisions on the pitch against Liverpool had me shaking my head and tutting in a manner seldom seen in Wesley Avenue on a match day. I know this comes as a shock to you, but yes, even the most positive among us is capable of sighing heavily from time to time.
I think what upset me most was not so much the hurried wayward passing as the amount of times the poorly executed pass was played directly into the danger zone, precisely where Liverpool would have wanted it, usually to a man heavily marked or on the back foot and without support. This was as much the fault of the players off the ball not moving to decent positions as it was the hapless attempts to find them with a bad pass.
Taken together it added up to a shaky, panicked display from a bunch of bewildered sportsmen struggling to understand why that which they usually find comes as second nature was suddenly so difficult.
How can the squad possibly do the improbable against one of the best teams in Europe? How indeed. Perhaps it would be more realistic to hope they begin to turn the tide. Put in a more coherent display, gradually turn the ship around and get themselves in the frame of mind to make a decent fist of the run in and the remaining FA Cup fixtures.
I had a sense that this was the plan at Anfield. Sit back and defend, draw if necessary but hope to hit on the break. Build a run of unbeaten results to get the engine running smoothly again. That would have made sense but of course team sport is a capricious beast and one cannot always steer it the way one might hope. The opposition, for example, will have a part to play in proceedings.
So what is left? Well, might I suggest that perhaps the only thing left tonight is the only thing that ever really mattered anyway? A game of football. An hour and a half of entertainment for the devotee both in the stadium and on the couch. Strip away the hyperbole and false analogies with armed conflict, remove the ridiculous media fuelled scandal and razzmatazz and what you have left is a football match.
Dead rubber or not if you are genuinely a fan of the sport you ought to able to enjoy the contest, the individual moments of improvisation and skill and the occasion itself. If not, if the match in and of itself isn’t enough for you and results are really all that matters then the final league table is widely published every May, you could spare yourself the weekly anguish and just glance at that.
Positively Arsenal 
No ruck, anicoll. A misunderstanding is all. Serves me right for being thick!
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Thanks one and all for keeping the flag flying. A football match, with world-class players on show. To be enjoyed. Nothing more, nothing less. Count me in, please. But I am worried about those soiled joggers.
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Aristotle is not Belgian. The central message of Buddhism is not “every man for himself”.
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H @THE_AFC_ 53m53 minutes ago
Breaking News: Stan Kroenke having heard of the march tonight against Wenger has decided to put the club up for sale on Gum Tree 👍🏽
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I’m outraged at tonight’s team selection
no matter who has been selected
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why aren’t you all at the protest, nearly 100 turned up
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like socialism,
In the presser Arsene was his usual sparkling eloquent self, everything you would want in a manager a total ambassador for the club. Like our team, at its best something so wonderful you cant take your attention away for a second. If the game is like that tonight we just might pull off something wonderful, something that would go down in history of the club.
COYG.
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Ozil on the bench, Iwobi out of the squad.
Ramsey back
I like that team, but I’m still outraged
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Bayern Munich team to play Arsenal: Neuer; Rafinha, Hummels, Martínez, Alaba; Alonso, Thiago, Vidal; Robben, Ribery, Lewandowski.
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Got to say, Eddie, I am outraged that you are outraged!!
And, what’s more I am outraged about the peeps who are marching because they are outraged.
I am so outraged that I have to go lie down for five minutes, if I can get the dog off the sofa, and now that is outrageous!
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Anicoll @ 6:25 pm
You are, as always, correct – the central message of Buddhism is not ‘everyman for himself’.
I am exceptionally ignorant of many religions, or philosophies, including Buddhism, but I do know, from my travels that there are 5 precepts of Buddhism which are; avoiding lying, intoxication, stealing, harming living beings, and sexual misconduct.
You will know this anyway, but a Precept is a general rule intended to regulate behaviour or thought of followers of Buddha.
Come on You Gunners!!
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Iwobi misses out tonight due to illness, he called in sick today.
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That’s outrageous too, Eddie!!
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The collywobbles are beginning to get to me — come on — let’s get this thing on the road.
That is a wonderful squad of players that Bayern have. Wish they were ours.
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Robert Pires has confirmed that Alexis did walk out of a training session and was disciplined for it. Koscielny in his role as captain followed Alexis when he walked out, to speak to him,
Pires: ‘Fans have to understand. There was a disciplinary sanction. Nothing serious happened. I was there yesterday too.. no problem’ (BeIN)
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reports that Welbeck injured in the warm up and that giroud starts.
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confirmed, welbeck out, giroud in
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FFs welbeck!
Hope that is nothing too,serious, really feel for him ,he needs a break….and,of the good luck kind
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Oliver KayVerified account @OliverKayTimes 39m39 minutes ago
“Arsene Wenger, you’re killing our club”???
Seriously go to Coventry, Blackburn, Orient etc if you want to know what a clubkiller looks like
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Reports saying Welneck was actually ill, not injured. Iwobi also ill.
So maybe Ozil wasn’t feigning it, or dropped as critics suggesting , could be a virus round the club ?
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15 minutes gone, Arsenal almost in 3 times.
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walcottttttttttttttttttttttt with a power strike
just the 3 more needed
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could have done with this ref in the chelsea game
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we have bayern in a bit of panic at the back, just need another goal to bring on the full meltdown
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alonso takes walcott down in the area, but only a corner given
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walcott into the side netting, maybe should have crossed
xhaka and the ox both having fine games so far
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ref giving us nothing
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Pires on Bein Sports: ‘Claims in press there was a fight are false. I was there. There was a bad tackle on AS, a clash, he left the pitch’
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Bayern with a good chance.
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Walcott booked for very little there
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Bellerin with a woeful cross when we had a great breakaway.
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how was vidal not booked for that on alexis.
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Martinez booked for foul on Ramsey,
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We could have had a pen, they should have had at least a couple more cards. But we know the score.
But overall, good performance from the team.
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HT: Arsenal 1-0 Bayern Munich
walcott with a great strike.
a few other decent efforts, xhaka and ox playing very well. ref having a mare.
if we can get another goal early in second half, it could really rock the germans,
I don’t see this game finishing 11v11, but not sure with this ref if he is strong enough to send off a bayern player
Best we’ve played in months.
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Could easily be a red in this game. Seems like one of those …special refs…..Arsenal get from time to time…..or rather a lot actually
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If that wasn’t a penalty, then we may as well scrap them altogether.
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Don’t worry, it will be a penalty if Xhaka does it
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Welbeck confirms he misses out cos he is ill.
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Have not got the sound on. Are they tryingto say Alonso got a micron of the ball?
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not sure why uefa bother with that extra official behind the goal, when they miss things like that penalty decision.
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Seems they were trying to show at every speed and angle to prove it wasn’t a pen when it clearly was.
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yes markyb, he fractionally touched the ball, and its v arsenal do no penalty.
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Very good performance so far. I’m enjoying this game….it’s not out of the question…oh, and the stadium looks full….
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the difference in supporters
this was the napoli fans two and a half hours before kick off v real madrid
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Penalty my arse
Great first half, THAT is Wengerball against a formidable opponents – proud of every man out there – let it rip 2nd half
(A Fish called Wanda Henry – cast your mind back)
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Daniel Cowan @thedanielcowan 26m26 minutes ago
That guy behind the goal line has missed a corner and a penalty from 2 feet away. What’s the point of them?
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