Arsenal’s Striker Issues and Sterling’s Future

Edu has departed Arsenal, and the club is poised to announce his replacement as sporting director. Jason Ayto’s interim period was quiet in terms of signings, but Andrea Berta, formerly of Atletico Madrid, is expected to bring more success.

Berta is known for his strong track record at Atletico, including selling Antoine Griezmann for a significant fee and bringing in players like Luiz Suarez and Julian Alvarez. This is a promising sign for Arsenal as they look to strengthen their attack.

Arsenal’s need for a forward was highlighted again in their recent 1-1 draw against Manchester United at Old Trafford.

Why Arsenal Struggled Against Manchester United

Simply put, Arsenal lacked firepower upfront. Aside from their 7-1 victory against PSV Eindhoven, they have appeared blunt in attack. It’s hard to fault Mikel Arteta or the players too much given the circumstances.

Injuries in attacking positions and a quiet winter transfer window have left Arsenal short. They are now 15 points behind Liverpool in the league. Creating clear chances was again a struggle against Manchester United, and without key saves from Declan Rice and David Raya, the result could have been worse.

Rice has stepped up as a leader, scoring the equalizer and making a crucial late tackle against Rasmus Hojlund. Raya also made important saves, though the opening goal from Bruno Fernandes’ free-kick exposed some questionable positioning.

Arsenal have faced some questionable refereeing decisions this season, adding to their frustrations against Manchester United where the free-kick wall was not correctly positioned, potentially contributing to the goal conceded.

Sterling’s Future at Arsenal in Doubt

Arsenal’s attacking lineup has been experimental since Kai Havertz’s injury. A front three of Trossard, Ethan Nwaneri, and Sterling was unsuccessful against Leicester.

Mikel Merino’s impactful substitute appearance changed the game, and since then, Sterling has not started for Arsenal again.

It appears unlikely Sterling will start again for Arsenal, even in their upcoming game against PSV. Arteta might prefer to use academy players or even players out of position like Kieran Tierney.

Tierney, despite his contract expiring and likely not being renewed, was preferred as a substitute over Sterling against Manchester United, even creating a scoring chance. This must be a setback for Sterling, who is struggling to get opportunities despite Arsenal’s attacking issues.

Sterling arrived on loan promising to show his best form, but his time at Arsenal has been a disappointment. This loan signing might be Arteta’s least successful, as Sterling’s confidence seems low, reflected in his minimal goal contribution this season, with only one goal in the Carabao Cup.