Raheem Sterling has been advised to take a hard look at himself as he fights to salvage his underwhelming loan spell at Arsenal.
The 30-year-old winger was deemed surplus to requirements by Chelsea in the summer, sealing a last-minute deadline day loan move to the Emirates Stadium.
Upon his arrival, Sterling boldly declared, “You’re about to see the best of me,” as he reunited with Mikel Arteta who played a crucial role in his development at Manchester City.
However, instead of reviving his career, Sterling’s time in North London has only intensified concerns that his prime years are behind him.
As Arsenal struggling with injuries, Sterling was handed a rare starting opportunity against Leicester City on Saturday. But rather than making an impact, he delivered another lackluster performance and was substituted after 70 minutes for Mikel Merino, who ultimately scored the match-winning goal.
Despite his struggles, Arsenal’s injury woes particularly the absences of Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli mean Arteta may have little choice but to persist with Sterling in hopes he can rediscover his form.
Also See: Arsenal’s Injury Crisis: List Of Free Agent Options to Consider, Including Chelsea Legend
Simon Jordan Questions Sterling’s Future
Former Crystal Palace chairman Simon Jordan believes Arsenal’s faith in Sterling may be misplaced. Jordan suggested that the winger’s career is in a steep decline, with repeated rejections from top clubs highlighting deeper issues.
“Whether Sterling is going to do anything meaningful, I don’t think it’s about getting Sterling right it’s about him getting himself right,” Jordan said.
“There’s a pattern here Man City didn’t want him, they sent him to Chelsea. He did nothing at Chelsea, and now they’ve sent him to Arsenal. At some point, you have to look at the player and ask, ‘When are you going to step up?’”
Jordan also dismissed suggestions that Chelsea were wrong to let Sterling go, slamming critics who defended the player.
“I sat here and listened to people saying ‘poor old Raheem Sterling.’ I said, ‘He’s been poor, get rid of him.’ And here we are now.”
Arteta Defends Sterling Amid Arsenal’s Struggles
Despite the growing criticism, Arteta refused to pin Arsenal’s sluggish performance against Leicester solely on Sterling.
“Everybody needs rhythm,” Arteta explained. “In the first half, especially in the first 20-25 minutes, we weren’t at our standards, and when that happens, you naturally look to the front players.”
With Arsenal still in the thick of their season and key players sidelined, Sterling has a limited window to prove he can still perform at the highest level. Whether he takes that opportunity remains to be seen.
