Arsenal’s attacking options are extremely threadbare after injuries to Kai Havertz and Gabriel Martinelli, and thus those who are left have to step up.
Havertz is out for the season after sustaining a hamstring injury in training in Dubai, while Martinelli will miss a month of action with a similar issue.
This leaves Mikel Arteta with just Leandro Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri and Raheem Sterling available to him as a senior forward options.
Leicester City host Arsenal this weekend, before the Gunners play West Ham at the Emirates next weekend, followed by a trip to the East Midlands to take on Nottingham Forest.
The aforementioned trio will likely have to start all three games, and the pressure on them to deliver is substantial.
Paul Merson calls on Raheem Sterling to ‘step up’ for Arsenal
While Havertz and Martinelli’s injuries are seriously damaging to Arsenal, they could prompt another squad member to step up and take the mantle.
Sterling has frustrated fans with his performances thus far this season, but he now has the opportunity to play a run of games and subsequently stake a claim to be starting even when other player return to fitness.
Writing in his Premier League predictions column for Sportskeeda, former Arsenal forward Paul Merson provided an optimistic outlook on Sterling ahead of the upcoming match against Leicester.
While the outspoken pundit called on the winger to step his game up, he also suggested a potential approach Arteta could take to the situation and believes it could pay dividends.
“Raheem Sterling has to step up for Arsenal now,” he wrote.
“I know it has not gone according to plan for him, but I expect him to stand up and make his presence felt.
“He will get a consistent run of games due to injuries at Arsenal and I believe he can make it count.
“Mikel Arteta could be like, ‘here are a few games for you, go out and play with freedom’, and I think that could work in favour of Sterling.”
Sterling has scored just one goal across all competitions for Arsenal this season, although he has only been granted eight starts, several of which have been in matches that have involved disjointed starting elevens.
If given a run of games in a settled team like Merson suggests, it’s still plausible that the Chelsea loanee can rediscover his best form and tangibly contribute to Arsenal’s season.
Merson labelled Sterling ‘world-class’ back in 2019 (via This is Futbol), and there’s no doubt that this level is still somewhere inside of him, it just needs to be unlocked.
- READ MORE: Mikel Arteta responds to possible free-agent signing at Arsenal now after Kai Havertz’s injury
Paul Merson believes Arsenal’s title hopes are still alive
Many have thrown in the towel regarding the Premier League title in the Arsenal sphere, but Merson believes the race is still alive.
The Gunners sit seven points behind league leaders Liverpool with 14 games to play.
Liverpool have more difficult fixtures than Arsenal, which, for Merson, is cause for optimism.
“If you look at the upcoming fixtures for Liverpool after this weekend, they face Wolves at home, Aston Villa and Manchester City away before hosting Newcastle at Anfield,” Merson wrote.
“Now that is a tricky run! If Arsenal keep winning and Liverpool win just one out of four remaining games in February, it’s game on!
“Arsenal don’t have a slip in them anymore, but Liverpool do and that’s why I think the title race is still open.”
If Arsenal can somehow negotiate the period between now and when Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli return from injury, then there is indeed every reason to believe they could still win the elusive piece of silverware.
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