Chris Sutton thinks £50m star has been a serious ‘disappointment’ ever since he joined Arsenal

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Although the club will still be rocking from Edu’s recent departure, Arsenal do have a Champions League tie against Inter Milan on the horizon.

Mikel Arteta will be trying to minimalise the effect of Edu’s decision on his playing squad at Arsenal, ensuring that the focus is purely on improving attacking displays on the pitch.

In terms of a plan moving forward, Arsenal are biding their time with Edu’s replacement, and perhaps the club might even leave the role vacant, delegating his responsibilities elsewhere.

Of course, for a trip away to Italy to face such a historic Champions League side like Inter Milan, Arsenal will need to be at their best.

But with short turnaround before the Gunners then travel Stamford Bridge on Sunday, Arteta may be considering one or two changes in Milan.

Chris Sutton thinks Mikel Arteta has already gone off Raheem Sterling

After Gabriel Martinelli was criticised against Newcastle, perhaps Arteta might turn to Raheem Sterling against Inter.

That being said, when speaking on the ‘It’s All Kicking Off!’ podcast, Chris Sutton labelled Sterling’s time at Arsenal thus far as a ‘disappointment’.

Given Arsenal recruited Sterling on a cut-price loan deal on deadline day, a player who cost Chelsea £50m, many believed that Edu had secured a coup. 

However, Arteta has seldom turned to Sterling when attacking impetus has been needed – something Sutton has noticed.

Sutton said: “What’s going on there? I don’t think you need to be a rocket scientist to work it out. He is obviously not doing enough, impressing enough.

“It must be in training and not taking the eye because when you actually strip everything back, you, well, Arsenal are struggling in the final third. It’s an issue.

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“It’s been a bit of an issue this season. And you think, well, surely, Raheem Sterling would be a player who could come on and turn the game and create a chance and give them a bit of momentum.

“That’s not the case, so he’s not getting on. But the fact that he can’t, you know, that five subs go on in front of him is pretty telling. So that’s one to watch.

“But I suppose Mikel Arteta will be viewing Raheem Sterling. I can only say from the outside, you know, I’m not on the inside of Arsenal.

“But we’ll be viewing Raheem Sterling as a bit of a disappointment, really.”

Raheem Sterling deserves a chance ahead of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard

Whilst it’s fair to label Sterling’s time at Arsenal as a disappointment thus far, the former Manchester City winger hasn’t necessarily had the chances to prove his worth.

Given that Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have arguably been Arsenal’s least effective attackers of late, it would seem appropriate to try Sterling on the left.

The winger is mainly being used on the right as Bukayo Saka’s back up, meaning his chances are very limited. 

Micah Richards thinks Saka is suffering at Arsenal right now, and perhaps the addition of Sterling playing alongside him could really help.

Gary Neville is still tipping Arsenal for the title, but something surely needs to change promptly.