The last time Raheem Sterling had a productive season was in 2021/2022, when he scored 13 Premier League goals. Since then, his performances have been on the decline, managing just 21 goal contributions in the league for Chelsea across 59 appearances.
This decline explains why Chelsea were content to send him on loan to Arsenal, having already deemed him surplus to requirements. For a club with title aspirations, should it not be concerning that they willingly signed a player whom their London rivals no longer wanted?
Arsenal were convinced that they could reignite Sterling’s form and worked hard to secure his arrival on deadline day. However, it remains unclear what Mikel Arteta’s expectations were, given that Sterling’s form over the past two seasons at Chelsea strongly suggested he was not improving.
Now at Arsenal, he is struggling for game time, and when he does feature, his performances leave much to be desired. He often looks ineffective, failing to complete even the simplest of dribbles. For a player of his experience, a return to form should not take more than half a season, yet Sterling has shown little sign of real progress.
With his departure at the end of the season appearing inevitable, serious questions must be asked about the logic behind his signing. Arsenal have made similar mistakes in the past, notably with Willian, whose move also failed to deliver the expected results.
Sterling’s decline was evident before he joined, and Arsenal’s gamble on him now looks increasingly misguided. While the club may have hoped to rejuvenate his career, the reality is that his struggles at Chelsea were not a temporary dip in form but rather a sign of an ongoing decline.
ADMIN COMMENT
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It’s a season long loan and a back up player; someone to finish games and I doubt he was ever meant to be more. It was a last minute punt which may/might be a useful stop gap. . Considering how many hours we’ve spent discussing the whys and wherefores of signing a “body” it’s not unreasonable to take the view that we signed one. It also begs the question as to why Arteta would sign another
In all honesty a think the former man city man is trying but he’s not getting younger and he has done absolutely nothing in his last two seasons at the Bridge, on the basis of that he can only be taken and trust.
SueP,
I personally would have given an academy player a chance. It would have been a risk I know, but surely it was better than bringing in a lets face it last day desperate signing.
Also we need to acknowledge that we’ve lost three academy players in recent times.
Obi and Heaven to Manchester United and the young lad who went to Brighton, his name escapes me unfortunately. He’s now on loan at Blackburn.
And although young player’s of yesteryear seem to be more patient than a lot of the youngsters today, is it any wonder that were consistently losing our promising talent to fellow competitors. 😉👍
I meant impatient, silly me. 🤦♂️
Derek
I do understand your reasoning but Sterling might well have worked for the season. The fact that Nwaneri and Skelly have burst onto the scene with such good results is a revelation and we must be grateful that they have. Would Arteta and the other coaches have expected such maturity? They were part of the preseason and did well enough to be at the forefront of the club’s academy development. I don’t know but my instincts tell me that the others in the academy weren’t good enough to be promoted yet. Are the ones who’ve cleared off to Utd going to be their future or just back ups until Amorim gets his hands on a big transfer kitty? I also don’t know if it’s fair on Sterling to have been written off before he had a chance. Arteta clearly believed that he could step up to the plate based on previous experience. He is previously credited with improving Sterling. It’s a punt that hasn’t played dividends but he is hugely experienced. I understood why Arteta wanted him especially as there are no further ties after the season So far it’s been underwhelming, sadly
* paid dividends 🙄
SueP,
I’m afraid where Sterling is concerned we’re going to have to agree to disagree.
I don’t know what it is about our club who keeps going shopping in the out of date isle in the Chelsea supermarket. One day the club may learn, I live in hope. 🤦♂️😉👍
Serious lack of squad depth.
Arteta loves Chelsea Rejects. Period. Remember Willian, Havertz, the defender and now Sterling.
Arsenal or Arteta?
Let me guess it was an edu signing .
I think the gaffer was convinced he could reignite the former Man City man form.
I would be happy if he we could get him back to his Chelsea form. He got eight premier league goals last season
I’m sure it was Edu, but Arteta gets the blame.
Yep I’m sure it was buddy ,I’m sure it was .
🙄🙄🙄
The gaffer stated it took just ten seconds to come to a decision signing Sterling.
Convinced the 29 year old was hungry to get back to his best ” The first call i had with him i knew in the first ten seconds we have to sign him because he really wants it.
Put Viera and Lankoga aside the Spaniard has rarely get it wrong in the market, one could argue the jury is still out with the former Man City man, but it just not happening for Sterling, for a player that won so many penalties in his hay days, he now fails to make even a simple dribble pass a average right back, really a sad watch.
Gunsmoke,
Maybe he should have give it another ten seconds. 😂🤣😉👍
The reality is sterling is done! He knows it more than anyone else. Sterling has had a great career! He’s won nearly everything. Made lots of money along the way and was a top football player. Everyone’s career comes to an end at some stage. Just at different times and we have to acknowledge that. That is way the Chelsea coach put him in the “bomb squad” and said he would get very little game time if any at all. We were warm and at Chelsea they must be rubbing their hands saying what a good decision. Let’s hope maybe his experience is helping some of our younger players at least (maybe a silver lining) It is my belief that Some of the mistakes arteta has made has cost us the premier league crown! But another silver lining is I believe Liverpool are fading and they will be dropping more points. The question is can we continue to win and capitalize…
Hopefully our such mistakes since MA took over are the last involving Chelsea or any other club for that matter.
It’s really in bad taste I think …..
Bad signing and it was 100% Arteta signing. He lovesxa Chelsea reject.