Mikel Arteta resisted the temptation to start Raheem Sterling in Arsenal’s FA Cup defeat to Manchester United, one that raised more questions than it answered.
In less than a week, Arsenal have seemingly ended two routes to a trophy, and Mikel Arteta’s injury crisis has continued to worsen with every hour of football played.
Arteta was forced to turn to Sterling owing to a freak injury to Gabriel Jesus, when he appeared to jar his knee when tracking back to stop Bruno Fernandes shooting on goal.
The Arsenal boss preferred to play Jesus out wide rather than trust Sterling against United, a player he’s handed important minutes since he arrived on loan from Chelsea.
Arsenal won’t cancel Sterling’s loan mid-season, but some fans in N5 may now be questioning that decision given Arteta’s continued reluctance to play the winger unless his hand is forced.
Arsenal fans divided on Raheem Sterling after FA Cup exit
That being said, Arsenal fans took to X to review Sterling’s performance in the penalty shootout defeat to United.
Arsenal supporters weren’t entirely negative about the winger, who tried to change the game when he was introduced.
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However, opinions became more damning at full-time, when the Chelsea loanee was a microcosm of Arteta’s issues in attack.
Praising Sterling during the game, one fan simply wrote: “This is the best of Raheem Sterling.”
Another supporter claimed that Sterling was having his best game in an Arsenal shirt, even if that wasn’t a huge sample size.
They shared: “Sterling’s best game in an Arsenal shirt. Not a high bar, but good on him.”
Then, once Arsenal had lost the shootout, one that Sterling wasn’t involved in, opinion became slightly more negative.
One fan simply concluded: “Send Sterling back to Chelsea please he’s absolutely useless.”
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Whilst Sterling did provide fresh attacking impetus when he first came on, his movements quickly became very predictable for the United defenders to stifle.
The England international was simply knocking the ball forward and sprinting at full speed, only to be cleanly tackled nine times out of ten.
Of course, Sterling wasn’t anywhere near as ineffective as Kai Havertz.
Havertz seriously struggled against United, a striker who suddenly looks bereft of confidence and the killer touch in front of goal.
A poor period for the Gunners, who are feeling the full effect of another untimely injury crisis.
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