Arsenal are preparing for their Premier League clash against Everton at the Emirates on Saturday afternoon.
Mikel Arteta’s side must immediately return to winning ways after Arsenal’s 1-1 draw with Fulham last time out.
At Craven Cottage, Arsenal had the chance to limit the gap between themselves and league leaders Liverpool however, the Gunners fluffed their lines.
Recharged after a dominant 3-0 win against Monaco in the Champions League, Arsenal must respond accordingly in the Premier League.
Arsenal’s left-wing problem continued against Monaco
While the Gunners cruised to a win in the end against the Ligue 1 side, there were still some clear areas for concern on show at the Emirates.
Arsenal have struggled on the left side this season, with a significantly reduced output from the left forwards in comparison to Bukayo Saka’s dominance on the right.
Whether it be Gabriel Martinelli or Leandro Trossard that Arteta looks to for inspiration, both forwards have been rather unconvincing this season, robbing fans of excitement on the left.
Both Martinelli and Trossard were below par against Monaco, offering very little in the final third, which could prompt the Arsenal manager to make changes against Everton.
It’s a must-win game for the Gunners if they are to remain firmly on Liverpool’s tail in the title race, with there little room for error going forward.
Raheem Sterling must start against Everton
It was only on match day 15 that Martinelli was criticised against Fulham, with the Brazilian struggling immensely to rediscover his form from 2022/23.
As a result, Arteta must do more to induce competition on the left side, with very few options as promising as four-time Premier League winner Raheem Sterling.
Already, it’s clear that Arteta is reluctant to play Sterling, who made the deadline-day move to Arsenal on loan from Chelsea.
Right now, the boss has nothing to lose amid Trossard and Martinelli’s below-par displays, which could present the perfect opportunity for Sterling against Everton.
In his career, the 30-year-old has faced the Toffees 22 times, contributing to eight goals in that time, giving him the incentive to add another to his collection on Saturday.
Arsenal lured Sterling across the capital to add to the options in the wide areas, making it all the more puzzling as to why the winger has been used sparingly.
It would be bold from Arteta to make the change against Everton but, would be a welcomed switch in personnel amid some rather lacklustre performances from the left side of attack.
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