What Raheem Sterling did that should worry Arsenal as Mikel Arteta receives damning feedback

The first words that Raheem Sterling gave to Arsenal supporters upon his arrival at the club were that they were about to see the “best of him”.

In the absence of Bukayo Saka, Mikel Arteta has needed to call on several other members of his squad.

Sterling was removed against Bournemouth after half an hour following William Saliba’s sending off.

Sterling though when he came onto the field sparked a reaction not yet seen since his arrival. For some, that reaction was anger, others frustration and some perhaps even smugness at an ‘I told you so moment’ with the Chelsea man strolling back when the Ukrainian side broke.

Host of the Arsenal Vision podcast, Elliot, wrote on X: “Sub Sterling off. Can forgive lack of execution but not lack of effort. Just jogging around.”

This perhaps gives more clarity to why he was brought off when the Gunners went down to ten on the weekend. Defending with ten rather than eleven is tricky enough, but a player who has a reputation for a lack of defensive application only worsens that.

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football.london editor Sam Truelove saw plenty of Sterling during his time at Liverpool and by extension Manchester City and Chelsea, and had this to say on the subject. He said: "Raheem Sterling is a great player.

"You do not play for Liverpool, Manchester City, Chelsea and Arsenal if you are not. But his priority is attacking and always has been since he made his Liverpool debut aged 17 in 2012 under then Liverpool boss Kenny Dalglish.

"Under Brendan Rodgers in the following seasons, he was hardly defensive. Yes he was energetic and worked hard in the final third, but he was never known for his defensive capabilities. He earned his money scoring and assisting goals and he seemed to know that from a young age.

"Given Sterling is now 29, the winger wants to save as much of his energy as possible so he can be devastating in the opposition's half. Sprinting back and helping out his full-back has never been his game and he's not going to start now.

"Perhaps Mikel Arteta believes he can persuade the former Liverpool man to change his ways. Or perhaps this very episode is an indication as to why Arsenal have only signed Sterling on loan and will never make it permanent."

Mikel Arteta is known for his hard line on application from his players. The infamous clip that went viral from the Amazon: All or Nothing series, Arteta shouts at his side: “If I lose a duel, I run.”

Gabriel Martinelli for example was dispossessed later in the game and sprinted the yards to pressurize and chase the ball. An action which got a raised clap from his manager.

Hopefully, Saka returns for the weekend clash with Liverpool. If not, Jesus would certainly be the favoured pick for the moment with the idea of Ben White, or whoever does start at right-back, not being backed up by his wide partner against Luis Diaz and Andrew Robertson is not something I’d wish to consider.