Raheem Sterling is not receiving any opportunities for Arsenal. He has not been very consistent on the team under boss Mikel Arteta.
STRUGGLE FOR THE ENGLISH LAD
Arsenal manager Arteta says that Sterling‘s lack of games is not because of “tactical reasons”.
The English star joined Arsenal on loan from their rivals Chelsea. He was kind of freezing out of the squad zone.
However, the new team isn’t any different for him. He has played only 4 games for the Gunners in all competitions.
As we can see, Sterling’s record hasn’t been up to the mark for the Gunners. Arteta is explaining tactics is not reasoning for his inconsistency.
His last start for the team was in the 3-0 win over Preston in the Carabao Cup in October. It has been quite difficult for the English international not to be given any time.
Arteta is not taking any risk of having another injury on a loan player now that it is concerning.
RAHEEM STERLING: A BLESSING OR CURSE
The Manchester City star hasn’t been in his old form after joining the Gunners on loan.
Injuries are to be partly blamed for his absence. Zinchenko and Calafiori are all injured. Arteta doesn’t want any more injuries.
Tactical adjustments have to be made so Sterling can hop on big games later on for the sake of the team.
However, Arteta still is unsure if Sterling is to be given minutes on the pitch. The substitutions have been made either to manage injuries or prevent further ones.
It has been a really difficult season for Arteta. But, he has praised about Raheem’s influence in the dressing room.
Arteta has added that it is quite disappointing when players cannot play due to the poor injuury crisis of the team.
Sterling is the one who is caught in the loophole of the injuries. Time can only tell when will it be time for the English star to shine.
Sterling might need more time to see what the manager thinks will be the right time for him to start.
AUTHOR’S OPINION
Raheem Sterling is a good player who has been incredible in his City days. Then he went on to Chelsea for more exposure, going on a loan to their rival club Arsenal.
So, Sterling knows what it feels like to journey through Premier League big teams. But, Arsenal has been causing quite a problem in his personal career.
He is not getting as much time as the coach expects him to be. Arteta is still not over the fact that his team is seriously facing the injury crisis.
But, still the team needs a recovery now that they are third in the Premier League race.
Trailing behind Liverpool by only 6 points, they have to be consistent to minimize the gap between them.
They have to take care of their injuries as fast as possible. It can be a huge issue for the team both in the domestic and the European stages.
Sterling can be lethal as suggested in the recent tweets by the Arsenal teammates Declan Rice etc. Therefore, it is only a matter of time before he enters the pitch, shines again, and does something for the team.
But, overall the Gunner fans surely want to see much more Sterling magic before the loan period. Or, Arteta have some other plans.
Arsenal might not be even planning on keeping the English international permanently. But we never know, plans can change at the very last minute.
Please feel free to comment down below with your thoughts on Raheem Sterling.
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