Rooney on Arsenal Mentality: Former United Star Questions Gunners’ Mindset After PSG Defeat
Wayne Rooney on Arsenal mentality following Arsenal’s narrow 1-0 defeat to Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) in the Champions League semi-final first leg, Rooney expressed his disappointment with the atmosphere at the Emirates Stadium, accusing supporters of assuming their team would cruise into the final.
Speaking on Amazon Prime Video’s post-match coverage, Rooney noted that Arsenal fans were subdued compared to their previous match against Real Madrid, where their energy had been instrumental in pushing the team to a dominant victory. He suggested that many supporters believed their team had already secured a spot in the final after defeating Madrid, leading to a lackluster atmosphere against PSG.
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Rooney stated: “I was a bit disappointed with how they played and the fans as well. Against Madrid, they were excellent and really pushed the team. Tonight, it was subdued, almost an anti-climax. It was like they beat Real Madrid and would walk into the final and win the competition. The fans had to be there for them tonight. The players had to show up, of course, but on both sides it wasn’t good enough tonight for Arsenal.”
Beyond the fans, Rooney also questioned Arsenal’s mentality, suggesting that the club suffers from a “psychological fear” when it comes to winning major silverware. He pointed out that while Arsenal has come close to challenging Manchester City and Liverpool in recent seasons, they have struggled to take the final step toward true dominance.
Rooney explained: “There is a fear! A hurdle they have to get over. They ran Man City and Liverpool close, but you need to be successful on the journey, and I don’t think they are making those steps.”
Despite his criticisms, Rooney remains hopeful that Arsenal can turn things around in the second leg. He believes that if the team approaches the match with patience and tactical discipline, they still have a chance to overturn PSG’s advantage and reach the final.
Rooney on Arsenal Mentality: Former United Star Questions Gunners’ Mindset After PSG Defeat
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