‘Might be the difference’ – Wayne Rooney takes aim at ‘subdued’ Arsenal fans after PSG defeat
Wayne Rooney believes Arsenal’s fans let the team down against Paris Saint-Germain, describing them as ‘disappointing’ and ‘subdued’. Supporters at the Emirates Stadium were well up for their Champions League semi-final clash in north London in the buildup to kick-off and made themselves known as the teams came out onto the pitch. Arsenal have it all to do in Paris next week However Ousmane Dembele‘s goal for PSG after just four minutes sucked the energy out of the stadium on what turned out to be a tense night for the home side. Arsenal ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat on an evening where the French side could have put the tie to bed ahead of next week’s second leg. But while Rooney was full of praise for PSG, the Man United legend believes that Arsenal’s cause was not helped by the lack of vocal support from the stands. Speaking on Amazon Prime Sport, Rooney said: “I think that PSG were by far the better team. “Tactically they were excellent. They were organised, patient and how they pressed and had an organised press on Arsenal’s goal kicks and went into a lower block when Arsenal had possession. “They tried to hit them on the break and could have won the game by two or three, so I think they got it spot on. “For Arsenal, I was a bit disappointed with how they played. I was disappointed with the fans as well. “I thought that against Real Madrid the fans were excellent and really pushed the team, but tonight they were a bit subdued. “It was almost like a bit of an anti-climax that Arsenal had beaten Real Madrid and were going to walk into the final and win the competition. “The fans had to be there for them tonight and the players had to show up of course, but on both sides it wasn’t good enough for Arsenal.” View Tweet: https://twitter.com/hashtag/UCLonPrime?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw Rooney later added: “Players need help and I thought that the fans against Real Madrid were fantastic – the best I’ve ever heard the fans at the Emirates. “They really gave a massive amount of energy to the players on the pitch and tonight I just didn’t think that they gave them the same energy. “In big games like the semi-finals of the Champions League, it might be the difference so I think the fans had to give a bit more. “Listen, the fans have been through a lot here at Arsenal and I’m not blaming them but if they brought the same energy as they did against Real Madrid then it might have lifted the players by five per cent.” Rooney’s comments come after Mikel Arteta issued an impassioned rallying cry to Arsenal’s supporters to bring the noise at the Emirates – something that Jason Cundy thinks they failed to do. Speaking on the Sports Bar, Cundy said: “North London Forever, my God. What happened to north London? Arsenal weresecond-best to PSG all night in north LondonAFP It means that the Gunners have plenty of work to doGetty “What happened to the crowd? What happened to them? For four minutes they cheered! “Mikel Arteta gave this big speech saying ‘bring your boots’ – why didn’t they bring their boots?” Cundy added: “They’re lucky, Arsenal. “They’re lucky it’s only 1-0. PSG should be out of sight. “They’re still in it, they’re lucky. Arsenal weren’t great tonight.” Arsenal will travel to Paris for the second leg which takes place on Wednesday, May 7. Match Stats
Wayne Rooney believes Arsenal’s fans let the team down against Paris Saint-Germain, describing them as ‘disappointing’ and ‘subdued’.
Supporters at the Emirates Stadium were well up for their Champions League semi-final clash in north London in the buildup to kick-off and made themselves known as the teams came out onto the pitch.
However Ousmane Dembele‘s goal for PSG after just four minutes sucked the energy out of the stadium on what turned out to be a tense night for the home side.
Arsenal ultimately fell to a 1-0 defeat on an evening where the French side could have put the tie to bed ahead of next week’s second leg.
But while Rooney was full of praise for PSG, the Man United legend believes that Arsenal’s cause was not helped by the lack of vocal support from the stands.
Speaking on Amazon Prime Sport, Rooney said: “I think that PSG were by far the better team.
“Tactically they were excellent. They were organised, patient and how they pressed and had an organised press on Arsenal’s goal kicks and went into a lower block when Arsenal had possession.
“They tried to hit them on the break and could have won the game by two or three, so I think they got it spot on.
“For Arsenal, I was a bit disappointed with how they played. I was disappointed with the fans as well.
“I thought that against Real Madrid the fans were excellent and really pushed the team, but tonight they were a bit subdued.
“It was almost like a bit of an anti-climax that Arsenal had beaten Real Madrid and were going to walk into the final and win the competition.
“The fans had to be there for them tonight and the players had to show up of course, but on both sides it wasn’t good enough for Arsenal.”
Rooney later added: “Players need help and I thought that the fans against Real Madrid were fantastic – the best I’ve ever heard the fans at the Emirates.
“They really gave a massive amount of energy to the players on the pitch and tonight I just didn’t think that they gave them the same energy.
“In big games like the semi-finals of the Champions League, it might be the difference so I think the fans had to give a bit more.
“Listen, the fans have been through a lot here at Arsenal and I’m not blaming them but if they brought the same energy as they did against Real Madrid then it might have lifted the players by five per cent.”
Rooney’s comments come after Mikel Arteta issued an impassioned rallying cry to Arsenal’s supporters to bring the noise at the Emirates – something that Jason Cundy thinks they failed to do.
Speaking on the Sports Bar, Cundy said: “North London Forever, my God. What happened to north London?
“What happened to the crowd? What happened to them? For four minutes they cheered!
“Mikel Arteta gave this big speech saying ‘bring your boots’ – why didn’t they bring their boots?”
Cundy added: “They’re lucky, Arsenal.
“They’re lucky it’s only 1-0. PSG should be out of sight.
“They’re still in it, they’re lucky. Arsenal weren’t great tonight.”
Arsenal will travel to Paris for the second leg which takes place on Wednesday, May 7.
