Despite Raheem Sterling missing a penalty, Arsenal have qualified comfortably for the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League by beating Girona 2-1 in their last group match last Wednesday, January 29.
The Gunners finished third behind Liverpool and Barcelona to qualify for the next round.
Amid the fact that Ethan Nwaneri once again caught the eyes to score the match-winner for Mikel Arteta’s men, which was his sixth goal of the season, Raheem Sterling’s missed penalty was a negative for the Gunners.
Sterling has done nothing so far to justify his move to the North London club from Chelsea on loan.
A Very Ordinary Raheem Sterling at Arsenal
Sterling has made 15 appearances for the Gunners this season, most of them as substitutes.
He has managed to score a solitary goal for them and has not been able to provide Arsenal with the much-needed option on the right flank in the absence of an injured Bukayo Saka.
For a player, who has won multiple Premier League titles with Manchester City and has also enjoyed stints at Liverpool and Chelsea, Sterling’s form for Arsenal has been quite disappointing.
Saka’s injury provided him with a chance to shine for Arsenal, but his indifferent form has forced Arteta to try playing Gabriel Martinelli and Saka in tandem on the right flank, as Gabriel Jesus is not available currently either.
At the age of 30, Sterling should still have a few years left in top-flight football. He has scored 174 goals in 564 matches in his senior career so far, which makes him one of the most experienced players in England at the moment.
Hence, this sudden fall from grace must have been tough to digest for the former England international.
Sterling has also found him out of favour in the national team set-up of late, which means that he should find it really difficult to revive his international career.
He has made 82 appearances for the Three Lions, but might not be able to add to that tally.
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Slim Chances of a Trophy
Arsenal should find it considerably difficult to win any silverware this season.
While they are a distant second to Liverpool in the Premier League, having dropped nine points more than the Reds so far, winning the Champions League might also prove to be too tough a task.
Hence, Sterling’s chances of securing any silverware seem very slim at the moment, given the fact that Arsenal are already out of both the cup competitions.
Arteta has found the Premier League title to be really elusive in the past, and there is very little to suggest that the ongoing season is going to be any different.
This might turn out to be Sterling’s last season at any top club. He will be 31 this season, and might not find any taker among the elite clubs of England come next summer.
The Englishman’s contract with Chelsea runs till 2026, but the Blues might sell him before that, with the Gunners also seemingly unlikely to extend his loan or sign him for the upcoming season.
Main Photo
Credit: IMAGO / Pressinphoto
Recording Date: 30.01.2025