Arsenal Falls to PSG, Rooney Criticizes Midfield

Arsenal experienced a tight 1-0 setback against Luis Enrique’s PSG in their recent match.

Former England star Wayne Rooney didn’t mince words when evaluating Arsenal’s performance, focusing his criticism on the midfield trio of Mikel Merino, Declan Rice, and Martin Ødegaard.

In the first leg of the UEFA Champions League semi-final, held at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday, Arsenal was narrowly defeated 1-0 by Luis Enrique’s Paris Saint-Germain.

Rooney stated that their uncoordinated pressing was a significant element in the Gunners’ defeat.

During his post-match analysis, Rooney commented, “The midfield for Arsenal were disorganized. They attempted to press at every turn, creating substantial openings, evident in the first goal. PSG will exploit such errors.”

He further explained, “They should maintain their structure and allow PSG possession occasionally. This aggressive pressing approach favors PSG more than Arsenal.”

The former Manchester United player also voiced his disappointment concerning the atmosphere at the Emirates, contrasting it with the enthusiastic support witnessed during Arsenal’s quarter-final victory over Real Madrid.

He noted, “I was disappointed with Arsenal’s play, and somewhat disheartened by the fans. In the Real Madrid game, the fans were amazing—truly motivating the team. Tonight, the atmosphere felt somewhat muted.”

He added, “It felt anticlimactic. They defeated Madrid, perhaps anticipating an easy path to the final. The players require encouragement, which was insufficient both on and off the field tonight.”

The Gunners now face a challenging task in the second leg in Paris, requiring a determined effort to sustain their Champions League aspirations.