Raheem Sterling’s Arsenal loan has unravelled due to tactical shifts, injuries and Arteta’s reluctance to wait for his resurgence.
Off the pitch, many things happen to players and for Raheem Sterling his loan spell at Arsenal has been filled with unexpected twists.
Once a feared winger in the Premier League, Sterling arrived in north London hoping to rejuvenate his career after a difficult time at Chelsea. But instead of rekindling his form, he has found himself on the fringes of Mikel Arteta’s squad.
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Despite his lack of playing time, those close to Sterling insist he remains professional and committed.
“Sterling is very rational in his thinking and ready to play a role whenever called upon at Arsenal,” a source told Daily Mail. However, the reality is that he has not been given the opportunities he anticipated.
In the early part of the season, his limited minutes were understandable. Arsenal’s front three of Bukayo Saka, Kai Havertz, and Gabriel Martinelli were in fine form, making it difficult for any player to break in.
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But as injuries took their toll—Havertz suffering a season-ending hamstring injury and Saka struggling with fitness—Sterling still found himself watching from the sidelines.
So why has not Arteta turned to the 30-year-old winger more often? Those around the club believe the reason lies in the manager’s approach to team selection.
“It’s believed that Arteta’s averseness to play Sterling is down to a reluctance to wait for him to build confidence and momentum,” a source close to the situation revealed.
“Instead, he opts for players who are ready in the here and now.”
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That sharp, daring winger from his Manchester City days, the one who could glide past defenders and finish with precision, has been hard to find.
Sterling’s only league start in 2024 came in Arsenal’s 2-0 win over Leicester in mid-February, where he struggled to make an impact.
“Time and again, he was thwarted as he tried to take on opponents in a display at odds to what he has produced in seasons gone by,” a club insider remarked.
His difficulties have not come from a lack of effort. Those at Arsenal praise his work ethic in training and his influence on young players like Ethan Nwaneri and Myles Lewis-Skelly.
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“The ex-England man has had an influence on youngsters in training, helping to provide pointers,” an Arsenal staff member shared.
However, Sterling’s struggles to break into the team have also been shaped by Arsenal’s long-term vision. The rapid rise of 17-year-old Nwaneri has played a major role.
“It’s likely that the Gunners wouldn’t have opted for Sterling if they knew how much Ethan Nwaneri was to develop in such a short space of time,” one observer noted.
Beyond that, there has also been a shift in his relationship with Arteta. When the Arsenal manager was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, he and Sterling were close.
“The pair were said to be ‘glued to the hip’ at Man City,” a former City staffer recalled. But now, as a head coach, Arteta has different priorities. He is transparent with Sterling, but the dynamic is no longer the same.
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With just weeks left in the season, Sterling is running out of time to leave a lasting impression. He is expected to return to Chelsea this summer, but with two years left on his contract at Stamford Bridge, his future remains uncertain.
For Arsenal, the deal to bring him in was financially low-risk—paying just 30% of his £325,000-a-week wages—but on the pitch, it has not delivered the impact either party had hoped for.
Sterling may not have been the player Arsenal needed, but behind the scenes, he has played a valuable, if unseen, role.
