Arsenal’s £162k-per-week Loanee Unlikely to Start Again After Saka’s Return

Arsenal returned to Premier League action with a convincing 2-1 victory over Fulham last night. While not flawless, Mikel Arteta’s side controlled most of the match and deserved the three points.

The game marked the highly anticipated return of Bukayo Saka, who had been sidelined since December with a hamstring injury. The Hale End academy product made an immediate impact, scoring just 7 minutes after coming on as a substitute.

Saka’s return likely signals the end of regular starts for one high-profile Arsenal loanee – Raheem Sterling. The Chelsea winger, who joined on deadline day, has struggled to make an impact at the Emirates.

Despite promising fans they would “see the best” of him, Sterling has managed just 1 goal and 4 assists in 23 appearances across all competitions. In 12 Premier League matches, he has only 1 assist and hasn’t created a single big chance.

With Saka back and other attackers like Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in good form, it’s difficult to see where Sterling fits into Arsenal’s starting lineup. The £162,000-per-week loanee may find himself relegated to a bench role for the remainder of the season.

Sterling’s loan move is increasingly looking like a costly misstep for Arsenal. Unless he can dramatically turn things around, the England international seems destined to return to Chelsea without making the impact many had hoped for at the Emirates.