Wayne Rooney blasted Martin Odegaard, Declan Rice and Mikel Merino for being ‘everywhere’ during Arsenal’s Champions League defeat to Paris Saint-Germain, also taking aim on the ‘subdued’ home support on the Emirates.
The Gunners were largely outplayed in front of their very own fans in the primary leg of their semi-final with Ousmane Dembele scoring the goal’s only game after just 4 minutes, silencing the gang.
After a rocking atmosphere in north London against Real Madrid of their quarter-final victory, the Emirates was relatively quiet on Tuesday evening as compared with Mikel Merino’s second-half header ruled out for offside also dampening the atmosphere.
Speaking at full-time, Rooney told Amazon Prime: ‘For Arsenal I used to be disenchanted with how they played but I used to be a bit disenchanted with the fans as well.
‘The fans against Real Madrid were excellent, they really pushed the team but tonight they were a bit subdued.
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‘It was an anti-climax for Arsenal, beat Real Madrid and thought they were going to walk into the ultimate of the competition.
‘The fans needed to be there. The players have to point out up in fact but on each side it wasn’t adequate tonight.’
Rooney continued: ‘The players need assistance, I believed the fans here against Real Madrid were absolutely implausible. The perfect I’ve ever heard them on the Emirates.
‘I believed tonight they didn’t give them that very same energy. In big games, in massive semi-finals of the Champions League, possibly that is likely to be the difference. So possibly they’ve to provide a bit bit more.
‘Arsenal fans have been through rather a lot I do know but possibly in the event that they brought the identical energy they bought against Real Madrid that may need lifted the players by five per cent.’
Arsenal were without Thomas Partey who picked up a costly suspension late on within the second leg against Real Madrid.
Merino, deployed up front for the reason that injury that ruled Kai Havertz out for the remaining of the season, was moved back right into a more familiar midfield role alongside Rice and Odegaard.
The midfield three nevertheless struggled within the first-half with their attempts to press the opposition not impressing Rooney.
‘The midfield three for Arsenal are everywhere,’ Rooney said at half-time.
‘They try to go press the ball at every opportunity and so they are leaving massive gaps, such as you see for the primary goal.
‘They’re leaving big gaps in behind and PSG will punish them.
‘They need to take a seat in shape, let PG have the ball for a bit. They try to press at every opportunity and this can suit PSG.’
Arsenal may have Partey available again next week once they head to the French capital for the second leg.
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