Former England and Manchester United captain Wayne Rooney says Arsenal fans “need to be better” in showing support for their team in their faltering Premier League title bid.
The Gunners suffered a blow to their hopes of a first league trophy in 22 years when they lost 2-1 at Manchester City on Sunday.
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That result means City are three points behind Arsenal and could go above them if they beat Burnley in midweek.
Arsenal were unfortunate not to get something against City but have been struggling for form, and there were boos at full-time following the 2-1 home loss to Bournemouth on 11 April.
“I think the Arsenal fans need to be better,” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Show.
“I saw them booing the team off the other day [against Bournemouth]. Arsenal have been brilliant all season and they’ve hit a little bad run of form.
“They need to understand how much the fan support means to the players and how much it can help you.
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“The players will have put so much work in day in and day out on the training pitch to be in the position they’re in now, so when you lose a game and you get booed off, that can affect players.
“I think for Arsenal to win the league, the Arsenal fans need to play their part.”
Arsenal have five games left to try to hold off Manchester City’s charge and win the title.
The Gunners have been in a similar position before only to end up failing to lift the trophy. In 2022-23, they were top of the table for a total of 248 days but ended up finishing second.
Past failures may be playing on the minds of many Arsenal fans following the loss to City, but Rooney says backing from the supporters will be crucial in helping them get over the line this time.
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“Of course they want to win the league and they’re desperate to win the league, but I think they need to understand they’ve got a role to play,” he added.
“If you look at Manchester United for instance, when over the last few years they have been going through a tough time with Eric ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, the fans were right behind the manager and backed the manager at the stadium.
“They were constantly singing and getting behind the team and very rarely booed the team off.
“Arsenal have been top of the league all season, they’re in the Champions League semi-finals and they lose against Bournemouth and they get booed off?
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“The fans need to be better for the players and back the players a little bit more because that will have hurt the Arsenal players, 100%.”
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