He prevented Arsenal business in January transfer window, now this player must step up and deliver for Mikel Arteta

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Arsenal head into the last few months of the season with their squad in a significantly weaker position than the start of the January transfer window.

Bukayo Saka is out until March with a hamstring injury and Gabriel Jesus required surgery on an acl injury sustained in the FA Cup defeat to Manchester United.

Arsenal failed in an attempt to sign Ollie Watkins from Aston Villa and had several other market opportunities pass them by as Arteta was desperate for more options in attack.

Arsenal even made a last-ditch attempt to sign Alvaro Morata but the Gunners did not act with enough conviction. Despite the club only wanting to sign the right player for the quality of the squad, Arsenal did have one restriction that may have hindered their hunt for a forward.

READ MORE: Arsenal actually sounded out ‘primary transfer target’ in November but he joined Man City instead

Raheem Sterling and Neto prevented any domestic loans in January

Arsenal made contact with Marcus Rashford during the January transfer window and were also exploring a move for Brighton striker Evan Ferguson.

Both players ended up leaving their respective clubs on loan deals however, this is something that Arsenal could not pursue due to already having two domestic loans in the squad through Raheem Sterling and goalkeeper Neto.

Premier League rules state that no side can have more than two domestic loans, meaning that Arsenal would have had to have made a permanent signing for either Sterling or Neto or for any potential incoming signing.

With January being a notorious window for finding the right player at the right value, this could be a factor in why the North London club chose to no act in the market.

Sterling needs to show what he can do for Arsenal the rest of this season

Arsenal fans were more positive about Raheem Sterling against Girona in the Champions League after having been unimpressed with his efforts so far in the red and white shirt.

The frustrations among fans has been the hesitancy and lack of conviction in Sterling’s game since joining from Chelsea, the England international has proven in the past what he is capable of.

Sterling will be relied upon by his manager from now until the end of the season to come on and change a game for Arsenal – produce a moment of magic that everyone knows he is capable of.

Fans are not asking him to take five players on and score twenty goals from now until May but want to see the England international playing with confidence and driving at players with pace and trickery.

If Sterling can rediscover his best form, there could be a huge moment in Arsenal’s season waiting for him to seize.