Wayne Rooney questions quiet Arsenal fans during home loss to PSG | OneFootball

Mikel Arteta and Gunners players repeated urged more noise from the stands

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Wayne Rooney has questioned the Arsenal fans' enthusiasm during Tuesday's Champions League semi-final first-leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

The Gunners went down 1-0 to Ousmane Dembele's fourth-minute strike in a game littered with chances for both teams. Mikel Merino saw an equaliser ruled out by VAR just minutes into the second half, while Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli were denied by fine saves from Gianluigi Donnarumma.

Time and again Arsenal players and Mikel Arteta were seen motioning to the crowd to get louder as the Gunners pushed for an equalier, and Rooney admits he was surprised at the level of noise from the home fans.

Rooney said on Amazon Prime: "PSG were by far the better team, tactically they were excellent. Organised and patient, and could have won the game by two or three. I think they got it spot on.

"For Arsenal, I was a bit disappointed with how they played, disappointed with the fans as well. The fans were excellent against Real Madrid and pushed the team, but tonight they were subdued.

"It was almost like an anti-climax. They beat Real Madrid and thought they are going to walk into the final. The fans have to be there the entire time. The players have to show up, of course, but I think on both sides, it wasn't a good enough."

Fellow pundit Clarence Seedorf agreed, adding: “You're playing at home, you have to give energy from minute one until the end. It was a bit disappointing."

Rooney concluded: "The players need help! The fans against Real Madrid were the best I've ever heard. Tonight, the fans just did not give them the same energy. That could be the difference in these big Champions League games.”