The Gunners suffered a blow to their hopes of winning their first league trophy in 22 years when they lost 2-1 to Manchester City on Sunday.
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That result means City are three points behind Arsenal and could overtake them if they beat Burnley in midweek.
Arsenal were unlucky not to get anything against City but have been struggling for form, and there were boos at full-time following the 2-1 home defeat to Bournemouth on April 11.
“I think Arsenal fans need to be better,” Rooney said on the Wayne Rooney Show.
“I saw them booing the team the other day (against Bournemouth). Arsenal have been brilliant all season and they’ve had a bad run.
“They need to understand how much fan support means to the players and how much it can help them.
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“The players will have worked hard day in and day out on the training pitch to be in the position they are in now, so when you lose a game and you get booed, that can affect the players.
“I think for Arsenal to win the league, Arsenal fans have to do their part.”
Arsenal have five games left to try to contain Manchester City’s attack 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 at the top of the table for a total of 248 days, but finished second.
Past failures may be on the minds of many Arsenal fans following the defeat to City, but Rooney says fan backing 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 are desperate to win it, but I think they need to understand that they have a role to play,” he added.
“If you look at Manchester United, for example, when in recent years they have gone through difficult times with Eric ten Hag and Ruben Amorim, the fans were behind the manager and supported the manager in the stadium.
“They were constantly singing and supporting the team and very rarely booing the team.
“Arsenal have been top of the league all season, they’re in the semi-finals of the Champions League and they lose to Bournemouth and they get booed?
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“The fans must be better with the players and support them a little more because that will have hurt the Arsenal players, 100%.”
(BBC)
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(BBC)