Raheem Sterling Struggles in Arsenal Debut

Raheem Sterling made his much-anticipated debut for Arsenal during their North London derby triumph against Tottenham. Entering the game as a late substitute, the 29-year-old footballer showed some of the old flaws that have been highlighted throughout his career.

Having previously played for four of the traditional Big Six clubs, Sterling is still missing Manchester United and Tottenham from his resume. His move to Arsenal came after Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca expressed a desire to offload the English winger in the summer transfer window. This opportunity allowed Arsenal, benefiting from the situation, to integrate Sterling into their roster.

Unfortunately, Sterling’s performance against Tottenham left much to be desired. His difficulty in maintaining possession was evident, and fellow substitute Gabriel Jesus also faced criticism for his display on the field. A consistent criticism of Sterling has been his occasional lack of composure in crucial moments, which was apparent again during this match.

A user on the social media platform X noted that young substitute Ethan Nwaneri was the only Arsenal player who kept his composure during the closing moments, while Sterling and Jesus struggled. The user wrote, ‘You send on Jesus, Sterling and Nwaneri, and the only one who keeps their head in those dying moments is the 17-year-old.’

Although Sterling’s initial showing at Arsenal was not his best, it remains early in his Arsenal career. There is potential for Sterling to become a significant asset to the team, provided he makes significant improvements in the future.