Arsenal: Wayne Rooney in disagreement over 'wrong' Declan Rice decision that 'cost' Gunners in PSG loss | OneFootball

Gunners stars blamed for decisive moment in 1-0 defeat to PSG

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Wayne Rooney and Daniel Sturridge have disagreed on who was at fault for Arsenal’s Champions League semi-final first leg defeat to Paris Saint-Germain.

Arsenal fell to a 1-0 loss at the Emirates Stadium on Tuesday night with the only goal of the game coming as early as the fourth minute.

Ousmane Dembele ended a run of five games without scoring by firing the ball past David Raya - and in off the post - after being left in acres of space on the edge of the box.

Speaking about the goal on Amazon Prime, Rooney believes Declan Rice made the wrong decision by vacating the space and trying to help Jurrien Timber double up on Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.

“I think this is a really good pass, it breaks the lines and then Dembele gets the ball and driving at the Arsenal defence, then he plays it wide,” Rooney said. “Arsenal have enough time to recover and I think Declan Rice just makes the wrong decision here.

“He comes and thinks he’s trying to cover of course, that’s what’s on his mind to cover his teammate, but leaving the space on the edge of the box is where the danger is with Dembele.

“In the quarter finals, semi finals and final of the Champions League, it’s the details you’re talking about. That’s what wins you or loses you the competition.

“I think today Arsenal just didn’t get a lot of the details right and that’s what’s cost them the game.”

However, Sturridge did not share Rooney’s view. Instead the former Liverpool striker placed blame on Mikel Merino.

Sturridge said: “I don’t look at that goal and say it’s Declan Rice’s fault. On the other side, Merino makes a defensive run back and by the same token, ran into a position and not toward the ball.

“Merino goes to press and is out of position, he makes the run back, tracking back to the penalty spot and not towards the ball to affect what is going to happen.

“The cutback is there and, by the same token, you can see Rice is going over to help so if my mate is going to help in the other position... you see Merino now, he’s just worrying about getting back into position and not where the ball is played.”

The result leaves Arsenal requiring a win at the Parc des Princes next Wednesday in order to reach only the second Champions League final in the club’s history.