Manchester United legend Wayne Rooney has criticized three Arsenal players for leaving massive gaps in the midfield during their UEFA Champions League 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain on Tuesday.
According to Rooney, the likes of Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino were ‘all over the place’ during Arsenal’s Champions League defeat to PSG.
The former England international also criticized Arsenal supporters for not giving the Gunners enough home support against the French Ligue 1 champions at the Emirates Stadium.
In the first leg of their Champions League semi-final, Arsenal were mostly outperformed in front of their home crowd.
After only four minutes in the first half, Ousmane Dembélé netted the sole goal of the match, quieting the home crowd.
Rooney, in his full-time speech, conveyed disappointment regarding Mikel Arteta’s team and Arsenal supporters.
Rooney informed Amazon Prime: “Regarding Arsenal, I was let down by their performance, but I also felt a bit let down by the fans.
It was an anti-climax for Arsenal, beating Real Madrid and thinking they were going to walk into the final of the competition.
“The fans had to be there. The players have to show up, of course, but on both sides, it wasn’t good enough tonight.
“The players need help. I thought the fans here against Real Madrid were absolutely fantastic. The best I have ever heard them at the Emirates.
I thought tonight they did not give them that same energy. In big games, in massive semi-finals of the Champions League, maybe that might be the difference. So maybe they have to give a little bit more.
“Arsenal fans have been through a lot, I know, but maybe if they brought the same energy they brought against Real Madrid, that might have lifted the players by five percent.”
He added, “The midfield three [Martin Ødegaard, Declan Rice, and Mikel Merino] for Arsenal are all over the place.
“They are trying to press the ball at every opportunity, and they are leaving massive gaps, like you see for the first goal
This weekend, Arsenal will face Bournemouth in a Premier League match.
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