Ian Wright has criticised Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling for their lacklustre performances during Arsenal’s victory over Leicester City.
With a number of key attackers sidelined through injury, Sterling and Trossard were tasked with leading the front line alongside teenager Ethan Nwaneri, who was making his presence felt. However, it was the 17-year-old, not even 18 yet, who stood out as Arsenal’s best attacking player in the match. Nwaneri was unfortunate not to have scored, hitting both the post and the crossbar during a lively performance that showed his potential.
In contrast, Sterling’s display was underwhelming, adding to the growing concerns about his loan move to the Gunners. His performance seemed to reaffirm the doubts that many had when Arsenal decided to bring him in. Trossard also struggled to make an impact as a centre-forward, though he showed some improvement when switched to the left wing later in the game.
Wright, clearly unimpressed by their efforts, voiced his frustration with the duo’s lack of effectiveness, particularly when the team is so short of attacking options. Speaking to Football365, Wright was critical of both players, saying:
“Arsenal know these are opportunities, when you look along that line, Trossard running straight, you’ve got to be aware of where you are, obviously he’s not a striker, you’ve always got to try to find that last defender and see where he is.
“That is unacceptable, that one there [from Sterling]. Unacceptable, he’s on the line, he can see the whole line, he’s got space, you pull your hair out as a manager.”
Wright’s words reflect the pressure on Trossard and Sterling to perform, especially given the team’s injury crisis. With Arsenal’s attack decimated and key players unavailable, it is now more important than ever for senior figures like Sterling and Trossard to step up and make a significant contribution.
Both players will need to improve in the coming weeks, as Arsenal cannot afford to waste any more opportunities in their bid for success this season. The Gunners are relying on their attacking players to take charge and deliver, and Trossard and Sterling must rise to the challenge.
ADMIN COMMENT
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You agree not to give any personal abuse to other Arsenal fans. Everyone is allowed to hold their own opinions even if you disagree with them. It COSTS NOTHING TO BE POLITE TO OTHER ARSENAL FANS.
I think the Leicester game showed how slow Sterling has got, in both his feet and in his brain. I think we should try and cancel his loan!!!
Despite what Wright says, Trossard worked his socks off.
He is not a false nine, he is best when playing on the left.
My biggest fear at the moment is that the two youngsters will suffer the same problems Barcelona’s young stars succumbed to!!!
We are desperate at the moment for attacking quality, but we should not possibly blight their careers just for a chance to win the Premier League, or the UCL champions league.
We have overplayed Saka in the last two years, and there is NO guarantee he will return from his injury completely healed.
I think it will be fine to rely on the two teenagers over the next couple of months we are only in two comps and they haven’t played in all those international games nor the extra UCL games So I think for a couple of months it might actually be good for their progress
It is a pity Ian Wright always has to pick on individuals !
The defence did fantastic keeping a clean sheet and supporting the forwards who eventually scored!
Well done!
Liverpool are on their last legs and very lucky to beat Wolves.
Sterling is well short of confidence and needs to do something to improve it.
Hugh McNeill,
Liverpool on their last legs, what are you on about.
Talk about rose tinted glasses. Yes our team won and that is great. But if your honest with yourself, we made just as hard a work of beating Leicester as Liverpool did against Wolves.
Come on man, get some perspective on things.
Liverpool on their last legs, Now I’ve heard it all.🙄🤦♂️
I honestly don’t think that Sterling should EVER play in an Arsenal shirt again. Those offsides WERE unacceptable, they WERE absolutely basic errors, and nerves for a professional of his standing and capabilities should NEVER be an excuse, let alone a reason. My opinion.
With 3 points on the board, good job by Mikel and the lads. My observation is that while Mikel has a fancy for GabbyJ, Kai and Merino have proved that anyone committed can score goals, the earlier he is replaced on the roster, the better for Mikel and the team. As ruthless Mikel could be with the lads he inherited, he needs to be twice more ruthless with the players he hired, no double standards. Also the failed experiments with CFC rejects have to stopped immediately or next season we might have NKunku or Recce over here to revive their carriers. Another point to be noted is that, we were 0-0 till 80 minutes against the second last team on the EPL table, not a good sign
Yes those offsides were unacceptable. Besides that though, Leicester were parking the bus big time. Hard to be creative in that scenario.
Sterling is literally filling a gap at the moment, not adding anything of value.
I never liked Sterling joining Arsenal. His final days at Chelsea were terrible, which is why the new manager let him go. Someone once said Sterling couldn’t dribble past a person in a wheelchair, and that statement holds some truth.
as the season nears the end what have we learned ?
some of our seniors are tiring, we have found at least 2
gems with more to come from the academy, max and cozier duberry.. come to mind ? stop hiring Chelsea flops
pay top money for genuine class.. beware of mid table teams etc..
I never understood the desperate last day signing from the start. It’s obvious that Sterling’s best days are well behind him. They have been since he left City.
I would rather see Arteta give one of the academy players a try. Now I know the experience card will be used to dissuade my argument. But I would still prefer to see if we’ve got another up and coming academy player ready to make the step up.
And lets face it, he can’t be any worse than Sterling can he?. 😉👍
I can’t help but agree with you.
As I’ve mentioned in a previous post, I don’t like getting onto a players case, unless it is clear that there’s no effort being shown. Sterling has clearly been trying, he’s just not good enough at this stage.
What is really strange is that he’s only 30 and as you mention, he seems his days are behind him… He’ll probably end up at a mid to lower table team finishing off his career.
Arteta will keep using sterling.his only chance is against tired legs at the end of games tho.
Maybe stop inheriting Chelsea bums🤔