Emmanuel Petit says he is losing patience with one Arsenal player who hasn’t delivered in years

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Arsenal’s true character will be tested from now until the end of the season.

The Gunners have shown this term that they are no pushovers by picking up results even when they had several players out injured. They are still second in the Premier League table and are through to the knockout stages of the Champions League.

But now, Arsenal have lost Kai Havertz for the rest of the season, and Mikel Arteta’s side will have to show what they are made of with just three fit attackers – Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling.

Emmanuel Petit is not convinced by one of those players.

Emmanuel Petit blasts Arsenal forward Raheem Sterling

Arsenal signed Sterling on deadline day last summer.

The Englishman was viewed as a market opportunity late in the window after Chelsea banished him from their first team. Arteta felt he could bring the best out of him.

Sadly, Sterling’s move to Arsenal has not worked out so far.

With Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all injured, Sterling has to step up for Arsenal in the coming weeks.

Petit, however, has no real confidence in the Chelsea loanee having watched him in recent years.

He said on talkSPORT: “I don’t get confident with Sterling, I’m afraid to say. I think he has lost something, you know, something has broken in his head a few years ago I think. I don’t know why. I have no idea why.

“I still believe he’s got something to deliver, but I’ve been waiting game after game, year after year, and I think I’m losing time and patience with him.

Raheem Sterling’s record as a striker

Arsenal will be without both Havertz and Jesus for the rest of this season, which means they no longer have a recognised striker.

Trossard is the likeliest option to start up front, while Arteta has tipped Nwaneri to play as a number nine too in the future.

However, Sterling should be viewed as a serious option as well.

Pep Guardiola once claimed that Sterling can become an incredible striker, and the numbers above suggest that he hasn’t fared too badly there.

However, the Englishman has barely played this season, and he may need a few games to get going.

Arsenal take on Leicester City in the Premier League on Saturday, and Sterling is expected to start. We won’t be too surprised if he plays up top.