Martin Keown says Raheem Sterling will explode at Arsenal if Mikel Arteta implements one tactic

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Raheem Sterling’s time at Arsenal has been really underwhelming so far.

The Gunners signed the Englishman on a season-long loan deal from Chelsea on transfer deadline day in the summer window.

Arsenal were keen to bring in a new attacker all summer, but after failing to land their main targets, Mikel Arteta and Edu Gaspar decided to bring Sterling in.

Unfortunately for the England international, things just have not worked out at the Emirates Stadium. But, Martin Keown is not giving up on him just yet.

Martin Keown explains how Arsenal can get the best out of Raheem Sterling

Sterling was always only going to be a backup at Arsenal.

Bukayo Saka was the undisputed starter on the right, while Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard were both ahead of the Chelsea loanee on the opposite side.

That is why Sterling has played just 822 minutes of football this season, but he still should’ve fared a lot better than he has done.

Many Arsenal fans have given up on Sterling, but Keown is adamant that the 30-year-old can still turn it around in the famous red and white.

He has explained how a tactical change from Arteta could bring the best out of Sterling in the final months of the season.

Keown said on talkSPORT: “I’m looking at Sterling and I’m thinking ‘when have I seen him at his best?’

“I think it’s when he plays wide left and when he gives it and goes – not running with the ball. He’s not at his best running with the ball. So, lend it inside and run off the ball.

“That’s where he’s going to be effective. That’s what they need to implement to get him at his best. It’s still there, it’s still under the surface. I’m not prepared to give up on him.”

READ MORE: Remarkable thing Raheem Sterling did vs Leicester proves Enzo Maresca’s warning to Arsenal was right

Why Martin Keown’s suggestion will not work

Keown definitely has a point there.

Sterling is at his best when he gives the ball and goes in and around the box. Those one-two passes to get him in behind makes him extremely dangerous.

The problem, however, is that most teams who play against Arsenal deploy a low block, especially at the Emirates. There’s hardly any space for the Englishman to give the ball and run in behind.

If Sterling was high in confidence and was at the peak of his powers, there is a chance he could pull this off against a low block as well, but we’re struggling to imagine him doing that now.

Hopefully, Sterling will prove us wrong and produce incredible performances from now until the end of the season.