Wayne Rooney directs blame at Declan Rice for Ousmane Dembele’s strike in Arsenal’s defeat by PSG – but Daniel Sturridge suggests different Gunners star is at fault

Wayne Rooney blamed Declan Rice for Ousmane Dembele‘s strike for Paris Saint-Germain in their Champions League win over Arsenal.

The French champions will take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg in Paris next week after getting the better of their English counterparts on Tuesday night, with Dembele’s early effort enough to separate the two sides.

Arsenal started slow in the game, struggling to press PSG off the ball as they found it tough to adapt to life without the suspended Thomas Partey in midfield.

And it appeared to be a midfield issue that led to the first goal, which saw Dembele fire in from the edge of the box after good play from Khvicha Kvaratskhelia to silence an excited Emirates.

The Amazon Prime Video pundits analysed the goal after the game, with the likes of Rooney and Daniel Sturridge disagreeing on who was to blame.

Rooney picked out a man he had praised before the game – Rice – suggesting he should have covered the space that Dembele ran into before scoring.

Rice (pictured) was filling in in a deeper role in the absence of Thomas Partey in the Champions League clash

Rooney pointed out how Rice had vacated the space that Dembele ran into to score

‘It is a really good pass that break the lines,’ Rooney began. ‘Arsenal have enough time to recover.

‘Rice makes the wrong decision, he thinks he is trying to cover but he leaves the space of the danger of where Dembele is.

‘In the quarter-final, the semi-final, those details win and lose you the competition and today Arsenal got a lot wrong.’

Sturridge, though, disagreed. He instead pointed to one of Rice’s midfield partners, Mikel Merino, suggesting he should have shuffled along.

This term, Rice has flourished in a more attacking role with support behind him in the form of Partey – but his fellow midfielder was suspended after being booked against Real Madrid. Rice at the time appeared frustrated, grabbing Partey on the pitch, and he was forced to adapt in the first leg against PSG with Jorginho also out injured. 

It meant he had to play in a deeper role, with Merino also dropping deeper having impressed up front recently.

‘I don’t blame Rice,’ Sturridge said. ‘Merino runs back but he doesn’t run to the ball. He tracks to the penalty spot, he has not gone towards the ball. Rice is going over to help and Merino is just worried about position.’

Rooney, meanwhile, was full of praise for his countryman before kick-off.

Daniel Sturridge (pictured), however, suggested Rice was not to blame, instead pointing the finger at Mikel Merino

Sturridge suggested Merino ran to the penalty spot instead of the ball when running back

Merino was also playing deeper than the role he has become accustomed to at Arsenal

Dembele’s goal was the only of the game, meaning PSG will take a 1-0 advantage into the second leg next week

‘I think he has been getting up to world class,’ Rooney said. ‘He has changed his position slightly of late and it suits him.

‘I would have liked him further forward today. Vitinha for PSG is important, but, in terms of the midfield three for both teams, it’s important to get the balance right of when they go forward and who is controlling the defence and organising.’