Raheem Sterling joined Arsenal on loan at the start of the 2024-25 season, to become the second player ever to play for Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea, and Arsenal. He followed in the footsteps of Nicolas Anelka, who also moved between the four English giants in his lengthy career.
Unfortunately for Sterling, his switch to the Gunners has been nothing short of disastrous. Instead of reigniting his career and reclaiming his place in the England setup, the winger has looked a shadow of his former self.
Sterling Has Struggled to Settle at Arsenal
When Sterling signed for Mikel Arteta’s Gunners on loan in the summer, some pundits were anticipating that it could be one of the shrewdest deals of the window. Various experts pointed out that the player had a “hunger” and a “point to prove” after his underwhelming spell at Stamford Bridge.
Unfortunately, the run of poor form has continued at the Emirates, with Sterling clearly struggling to make his mark in Arteta’s system. The Spaniard worked with Sterling during his time as assistant manager at City, but he hasn’t inherited the same player that enjoyed such success under Pep Guardiola.
Most of Sterling’s performances this season have been as a late sub. The 30-year-old hasn’t managed to work his way into the starting line-up and wasn’t seen as a worthy replacement for Bukayo Saka when the star man got injured. It’s highly likely that Arsenal will part ways with the former England international after this campaign ends, chalking it up to a failed experiment.
Gunners Would Have Been Better Off Signing a Striker
It turns out that the Gunners haven’t lacked depth on the wings, with various players ready to step up and provide quality in those areas. The club’s title challenge has been derailed by the lack of a quality striker, and it’s strange that they didn’t seek to strengthen in this area.
Arsenal went into the 2024-25 campaign as one of the favorites for the title, but after 27 games, they’d allowed the gap between them and Liverpool to grow to 13 points. At the time of writing, the football bet odds have the Gunners at around 33/1 to lift the trophy this term, with the Reds almost shoo-ins to win under Arne Slot.
Had Arsenal gone in for a striker instead of Sterling in the summer, it could have been a different story. A red hot center-forward is the one thing that Arteta’s side has lacked, with Kai Havertz an unreliable option in the role. There’s a strong chance that the Gunners will try to sign a new striker in the summer, and it has been reported that they are interested in Newcastle United’s Alexander Isak.
If Sterling returns to Chelsea after this Arsenal loan, there will be a lot of uncertainty around his future. A move away from the Premier League may be the best option for the 30-year-old, and he may be able to find a home in the Saudi Pro League or the MLS.
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