Arsenal supporters created an electric atmosphere during their Champions League quarter-final tie against Real Madrid, helping to inspire their team to a stunning 3-0 victory at the Emirates Stadium. The players responded to that energy, using it to propel themselves into a strong position for the second leg in Spain, which they eventually navigated successfully.
In the semi-final first leg against Paris Saint-Germain, the club hoped for a repeat of that same support from the home crowd. The Emirates Stadium was lively and vibrant before kick-off, with fans eager to push their side one step closer to the final. However, the tone of the match changed quickly when PSG scored early, a goal that appeared to deflate the atmosphere in the stands.
As the game wore on and Arsenal struggled to find an equaliser, the initial enthusiasm among the supporters began to fade. By the end of the match, it was the travelling PSG fans—fewer than 10 percent of the total crowd—who could be heard more clearly inside the stadium. Their persistent support created a noticeable contrast and, arguably, gave their side a psychological edge.
Wayne Rooney addressed this shift in atmosphere and questioned whether the Arsenal fans did enough to back their team throughout the 90 minutes. As quoted by the Daily Mail, he said: “The players need help. I thought the fan here against Madrid was the best I’d heard it. They gave a massive amount of energy but tonight they didn’t give them that same energy – it can be the difference. The fans have been a lot – and I am not blaming them – but if they brought the same energy from Madrid, it could have given them a lift.”
Rooney’s comments reflect a broader point about the influence a home crowd can have in key matches. While it is understandable that frustration may build when a team is behind, unwavering support in those moments can provide the extra motivation players need. Arsenal now head to Paris for the decisive leg, and if they are to overturn the deficit, both the team and the fans must show complete belief and commitment until the final whistle.
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A tie is never settled by the first leg.
There is good reason Arsenal will prevail in the end just when they are written off by fans and pundit alike
That’s the spirit Gunsmoke!
I have to agree with him
I think atmosphere has been poor this season
I think the way you play football, has a bearing on crowd fever and excitement. The players and the manager have a big part in that. And not just waving your arms. Which is just not enough.
The atmosphere before the game was as intense as the RM game, but it was that early goal and the first 20 odd minutes that knocked the stuffing out of the players and the fans.
It got better in the second half and one could see how the crowd would have reacted differently by the way we had lift off when Merino “scored”.
But the way we were so slow in our build up and Raya insisting on putting his foot on the ball and wasting time, really got on the crowds nerves.
I also have to question the club’s support versus the Madrid game.
To see the red and white bags being held up (supplied by the club and on every seat) around the ground before the Madrid game, was electrifying, but strangely, they did nothing like that for this PSG game.
Credit to PSG, as they silenced the home crowd, let’s hope we can do the same in the return leg.