Tir Na Nog
Won’t accept b*tch position
Country: Ireland
This is what I don't get, he's obviously not gonna do anything hugging the right touchline but it's the only position Arteta ever plays him in.
Raheem Sterling: Shaken, Not Sterred
- Thread starter 2Smokeyy
- Start date
- Replies 1,022
- Views 67,501
- Watchers 90
Country: Ireland
This is what I don't get, he's obviously not gonna do anything hugging the right touchline but it's the only position Arteta ever plays him in.
Country: England
Big Díck Brendan
At least playing in the middle would get him the ball in areas where his diminishing athleticism is less of an issue
Yousif Arsenal
Was on Vinai's payroll; misses 4th place trophy 🏆
I don't he'll excel at any other positions because simply he not showing any effort. There reason Arteta just don't bring him despite we basically have no forwards.
I didn't expect that decline the guy had 18G/A with Chelsea last season
I didn't expect that decline the guy had 18G/A with Chelsea last season
Bloodbather
Established Member
Country: Turkiye
Not even good enough for the best sides in the Turkish league. Başakşehir would suit him, they love a has been.
ArsenalInMyHeart
This is your brain on ITK addiction
When we signed him, this is a sign for a season failed
Clrnc
We need another CB
Country: Singapore
Player:Tomiyasu
I'm still laughing at all the people who were down on him, then because Arteta signed him quickly bigged him up in every thread and tell us how good Sterling is, Chelsea is stupid paying him to play for us etc. Then create video compilations of his best moments last year lmao
Batman
Hard on crime, soft on Stan
Country: USA
Player:Nwaneri
In a world where we handed Chelsea the best LB in England for William Gallas, signed Willian from them, and gave them over 60m for Havertz, this might be the worst business we've ever done with them, even on a subsidized loan. He is tragic. It must be how United supporters feel watching Casemiro.
Gooner Zig
AM's Resident Accountant
Country: Canada
The only position I'd throw him in now is F9 and see what he can do. Honestly he's just completely ineffective out wide (LW or RW).
Hleb's Sirush
Established Member
I don't want to see any post calling for him to start. Sad to to see but even in a game like this where all our players seemed to have so much space and time, he still looked hopeless.
ArsenalInMyHeart
This is your brain on ITK addiction
this guy can't do anything on the pitch. Its time Arteta has to use our young players
Yousif Arsenal
Was on Vinai's payroll; misses 4th place trophy 🏆
Just saw butler is 22 why this guy still at Arsenal? No wonder Arteta never play him he has no top level experience
Batman
Hard on crime, soft on Stan
Country: USA
Player:Nwaneri
Sterling every match now:
Yousif Arsenal
Was on Vinai's payroll; misses 4th place trophy 🏆
As fans we got nothing just to support this guy not talking about us in AM we don't go to games but hope Emirates supporters and away fans just continue support him he on loan and not long term.
So far he really giving the fans zero reasons to even cheer for him lol
So far he really giving the fans zero reasons to even cheer for him lol
BBF
Established Member
Country: England
Getting locked out by another winger six years older than you is an interesting development.
Put him up top next week and if it's the same result call it a day.
Put him up top next week and if it's the same result call it a day.
Riou
🎵 Riouce Riouce Baby 🎶
Country: Northern Ireland
He just gets on the pitch, gives the ball away and then smiles with people at the end.
Seeing a 40 year old Perisic (who played the whole game) catch up to a freshly subbed on Sterling was just diabolical
Seeing a 40 year old Perisic (who played the whole game) catch up to a freshly subbed on Sterling was just diabolical
Country: England
Time and again, the TV cameras panned to a stony-faced Raheem Sterling during Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Manchester Unitedat Old Trafford on Sunday.
On 76 minutes, Mikel Arteta had brought on full back Kieran Tierney, who is leaving the club to return to Celtic this summer, to play on the left wing instead of Sterling.
It was a telling moment reflecting just how far the 82-cap England international and four-time Premier League winner has slipped down Arteta’s pecking order, and epitomised a loan move which has not worked out as planned.
Wednesday, it seems, is the 30-year-old’s final shot at redemption in an Arsenal jersey. The Gunners face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last 16 second leg at the Emirates Stadium in a total dead rubber.
The 7-1 drubbing Arsenal handed out in the Netherlands last week leaves this game as a free hit in which Arteta will rotate his squad ahead of a crucial run-in.
But for Sterling, Wednesday is of wider significance heading into a summer where he could lie in limbo with two more years of his Chelsea contract left to run.
Mail Sport understands Sterling is very rational in his thinking and ready to play a role whenever called upon at Arsenal. There is no denying, however, that the lack of game time has proved disappointing.
Despite matters not having panned out in the way he’d have wished for in terms of playing time, it's understood that Sterling is still pleased he made the move to Arsenal. He was desperate to find a way out of Chelsea after being banished by Enzo Maresca and denied access to first-team facilities. It’s understood that the situation got so bad that the PFA reached out, and employment lawyers were circling a number of the ousted players.
Yet the move to north London was not on the cards in the first place. Mail Sport understands Sterling was initially preparing to move to Manchester United on loan in August.
Key people at United had spoken highly of Sterling, having worked with him before; sporting director Dan Ashworth (ex-FA director of elite development), technical director Jason Wilcox (ex-academy director at Manchester City) and Omar Berrada (ex-chief football operations officer at City) all vouched for the player.
The stars seemed to have aligned. United were also hoping Sterling would provide a big brother figure for the struggling Marcus Rashford. But PSR rules, which United are perilously close to, put paid to the move happening. Crystal Palace and Tottenham were also in the hunt for his signature.
It’s likely that the Gunners wouldn’t have opted for Sterling if they knew how much Ethan Nwaneri was to develop in such a short space of time. The 17-year-old has long been identified as a burgeoning talent, but the north London club didn’t want to rush his development.
It was the hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka on December 21 against Crystal Palace that thrust the youngster to centre stage, as he made his league debut against Brentford on New Year’s Day and has started the last four matches. Nwaneri has impressively struck eight goals already this season.
The pitch from Arsenal to Sterling was that he would not come in as a starter, but reinforce both the left and right wings. In his mind, he was going to be a reinforcement for Gabriel Martinelli and Saka.
Those around him are surprised he has not been given a chance down the middle as a striker, particularly after Kai Havertz’s injury.
His limited game time in the first half of this season didn’t warrant raised eyebrows because of Arsenal’s front three of Saka, Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli. Most players across the league would struggle to get into the team ahead of such a trio.
It’s from February onwards, after Havertz’s season-ending hamstring sustained during the north London club’s Dubai trip, which has been trickier to decipher.
In terms of the relationship between Arteta and Sterling, it is different compared to when Arteta was assistant coach at Man City between 2016 and 2019, where the winger was in his prime.
The pair were said to be ‘glued to the hip’ at Man City, as Arteta spent hours experimenting in using him in different positions in training.
They bonded really well and still do talk regularly. The player is understood to respect the transparency he is shown by his boss, which includes on team selection, no matter how difficult that news may be. But there is of course a difference in communicating with a boss than an assistant coach.
Going back to the playing side, without Saka, Martinelli — who only just returned from injury at United on Sunday — and Havertz, a spot for Sterling in the front three was there for the taking.
In the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Leicester on February 15, Sterling was, time and again, thwarted as he tried to take on opponents in a display at odds to what he has produced in seasons gone by.
That sharp, daring player of old, who could leave an opponent for dust or use his silky dribbling skills in navigating tight areas, was hard to find. Since then, he has not started a league match.
The winger is said to be working tirelessly in training and has a strong desire to play. His energy behind the scenes has particularly stood out to those around the club.
When it comes to why he hasn’t made an impact, there are several factors. One is a lack of playing time this season. The winger has only started four league matches and just as he was starting to build some rhythm, he sustained a knee injury in mid-December; not ideal circumstances to build momentum in, nor confidence.
Mail Sport understands that he rushed back to make himself available while not being fully fit because of Saka’s hamstring injury.
It’s believed that Arteta’s averseness to play Sterling is down to a reluctance to wait for him to build confidence and momentum, opting instead to pick players who are ready in the here and now.
He was signed for more than his on the pitch impact, though. The ex-England man has had an influence on youngsters like Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly in training, helping to provide pointers. That has included guidance on how to navigate the media.
For Arsenal, the deal to bring him in is still seen as financially shrewd. They are only paying 30 per cent (£97,500) out of his £325,000 weekly wages.
What is for certain that the time for Sterling to make an impact at Arsenal is running out fast.
On 76 minutes, Mikel Arteta had brought on full back Kieran Tierney, who is leaving the club to return to Celtic this summer, to play on the left wing instead of Sterling.
It was a telling moment reflecting just how far the 82-cap England international and four-time Premier League winner has slipped down Arteta’s pecking order, and epitomised a loan move which has not worked out as planned.
Wednesday, it seems, is the 30-year-old’s final shot at redemption in an Arsenal jersey. The Gunners face PSV Eindhoven in the Champions League last 16 second leg at the Emirates Stadium in a total dead rubber.
The 7-1 drubbing Arsenal handed out in the Netherlands last week leaves this game as a free hit in which Arteta will rotate his squad ahead of a crucial run-in.
But for Sterling, Wednesday is of wider significance heading into a summer where he could lie in limbo with two more years of his Chelsea contract left to run.
Mail Sport understands Sterling is very rational in his thinking and ready to play a role whenever called upon at Arsenal. There is no denying, however, that the lack of game time has proved disappointing.
Despite matters not having panned out in the way he’d have wished for in terms of playing time, it's understood that Sterling is still pleased he made the move to Arsenal. He was desperate to find a way out of Chelsea after being banished by Enzo Maresca and denied access to first-team facilities. It’s understood that the situation got so bad that the PFA reached out, and employment lawyers were circling a number of the ousted players.
Yet the move to north London was not on the cards in the first place. Mail Sport understands Sterling was initially preparing to move to Manchester United on loan in August.
Key people at United had spoken highly of Sterling, having worked with him before; sporting director Dan Ashworth (ex-FA director of elite development), technical director Jason Wilcox (ex-academy director at Manchester City) and Omar Berrada (ex-chief football operations officer at City) all vouched for the player.
The stars seemed to have aligned. United were also hoping Sterling would provide a big brother figure for the struggling Marcus Rashford. But PSR rules, which United are perilously close to, put paid to the move happening. Crystal Palace and Tottenham were also in the hunt for his signature.
It’s likely that the Gunners wouldn’t have opted for Sterling if they knew how much Ethan Nwaneri was to develop in such a short space of time. The 17-year-old has long been identified as a burgeoning talent, but the north London club didn’t want to rush his development.
It was the hamstring injury to Bukayo Saka on December 21 against Crystal Palace that thrust the youngster to centre stage, as he made his league debut against Brentford on New Year’s Day and has started the last four matches. Nwaneri has impressively struck eight goals already this season.
The pitch from Arsenal to Sterling was that he would not come in as a starter, but reinforce both the left and right wings. In his mind, he was going to be a reinforcement for Gabriel Martinelli and Saka.
Those around him are surprised he has not been given a chance down the middle as a striker, particularly after Kai Havertz’s injury.
His limited game time in the first half of this season didn’t warrant raised eyebrows because of Arsenal’s front three of Saka, Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli. Most players across the league would struggle to get into the team ahead of such a trio.
It’s from February onwards, after Havertz’s season-ending hamstring sustained during the north London club’s Dubai trip, which has been trickier to decipher.
In terms of the relationship between Arteta and Sterling, it is different compared to when Arteta was assistant coach at Man City between 2016 and 2019, where the winger was in his prime.
The pair were said to be ‘glued to the hip’ at Man City, as Arteta spent hours experimenting in using him in different positions in training.
They bonded really well and still do talk regularly. The player is understood to respect the transparency he is shown by his boss, which includes on team selection, no matter how difficult that news may be. But there is of course a difference in communicating with a boss than an assistant coach.
Going back to the playing side, without Saka, Martinelli — who only just returned from injury at United on Sunday — and Havertz, a spot for Sterling in the front three was there for the taking.
In the Gunners’ 2-0 victory over Leicester on February 15, Sterling was, time and again, thwarted as he tried to take on opponents in a display at odds to what he has produced in seasons gone by.
That sharp, daring player of old, who could leave an opponent for dust or use his silky dribbling skills in navigating tight areas, was hard to find. Since then, he has not started a league match.
The winger is said to be working tirelessly in training and has a strong desire to play. His energy behind the scenes has particularly stood out to those around the club.
When it comes to why he hasn’t made an impact, there are several factors. One is a lack of playing time this season. The winger has only started four league matches and just as he was starting to build some rhythm, he sustained a knee injury in mid-December; not ideal circumstances to build momentum in, nor confidence.
Mail Sport understands that he rushed back to make himself available while not being fully fit because of Saka’s hamstring injury.
It’s believed that Arteta’s averseness to play Sterling is down to a reluctance to wait for him to build confidence and momentum, opting instead to pick players who are ready in the here and now.
He was signed for more than his on the pitch impact, though. The ex-England man has had an influence on youngsters like Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly in training, helping to provide pointers. That has included guidance on how to navigate the media.
For Arsenal, the deal to bring him in is still seen as financially shrewd. They are only paying 30 per cent (£97,500) out of his £325,000 weekly wages.
What is for certain that the time for Sterling to make an impact at Arsenal is running out fast.
Blood on the Tracks
Michael Owen Level Analysis
Country: England
Player:Rice
Opposition was what it was but he played well tonight.
Hopefully this will give him a bit of a confidence boost.
Sterling at 80% of what he was would still be a useful squaddie.
Hopefully this will give him a bit of a confidence boost.
Sterling at 80% of what he was would still be a useful squaddie.
grange
Losing my brain cells 🥸
Country: USA
Player:Calafiori
Rooting for him to figure something out. I don't really like piling on somebody who's obviously struggling beyond a certain level.
