Gary Neville has voiced his doubts regarding Arsenal’s acquisition of Raheem Sterling. The football pundit suggests that Mikel Arteta, Arsenal’s manager, might have been the primary advocate for signing Sterling, despite the player’s less than impressive performances since joining the club.
Sterling, a forward brought in to enhance Arsenal’s attacking options last summer, has struggled to find his form in North London. Expectations were high that he would complement Arsenal’s existing attacking talents like Bukayo Saka, Leandro Trossard, and Kai Havertz.
However, Sterling has yet to score in his 12 Premier League appearances for Arsenal. His contributions have been limited to a single assist in the league and one goal in the EFL Cup against Bolton.
Neville speculates that Arteta’s strong push to sign Sterling, coupled with the player’s limited impact, might have affected the Arsenal board’s confidence in Arteta’s transfer decisions. He further suggests this could be a reason why Arsenal refrained from signing a striker during the January transfer window, despite facing a striker shortage due to injuries.
Arsenal’s attacking struggles have been apparent in recent matches, including a defeat to West Ham and a goalless draw against Nottingham Forest. Nottingham Forest manager Nuno Espirito Santo even admitted that he adjusted his team’s tactics against Arsenal, feeling less threatened due to their lack of a recognized striker.
Arteta himself acknowledged the need to adapt the team’s approach to maximize their current player strengths, hinting at a different style of play due to the absence of a traditional striker. Sterling’s minimal impact was further highlighted in the game against Forest, where he had few touches and no shots after coming on as a substitute.
Meanwhile, Liverpool, Arsenal’s title rivals, have capitalized on Arsenal’s misfiring form, extending their lead at the top of the league.
