Why it's now or never for Raheem Sterling at Arsenal as Mikel Arteta looks for injury solution | OneFootball

Chelsea loanee must step up after Kai Havertz blow or risk underwhelming Gunners spell ending with a whimper

Even after a difficult fortnight for Arsenal, Mikel Arteta was able to muster a smile and some gallows humour during his press conference on Friday.

Gabriel Martinelli and Kai Havertz have both picked up hamstring injuries to leave Arsenal’s already depleted attack desperately short on options.

Arteta now has just three fit forwards for Saturday’s trip to Leicester in Ethan Nwaneri, Leandro Trossard and Raheem Sterling.

“You don’t have to be very creative with the options that we have,” said Arteta, when asked who could play up front at the King Power Stadium. “I’m sure you’re going to get it right!”

Trossard is the frontrunner to play as a striker for Arsenal, who head to Leicester knowing that a win will close the gap on Premier League leaders Liverpool to four points. The Belgian has done so in the past and proved an effective option as a false nine.

It would leave Arteta with Nwaneri and Sterling on the wings - and this period feels like a huge one for the latter. Sterling has endured a difficult time since joining Arsenal on loan from Chelsea on transfer deadline day in the summer.

He has scored just once, finding the net during a 5-1 win over Bolton in the Carabao Cup back in September. There has been the odd bright moment, however Sterling is still waiting for that “click” Arteta so often talks about with players coming into his team.

Sterling can point to the fact that opportunities have been hard to come by. He has started just eight games all season.

Only once has the 30-year-old started two matches in a row and that was back in October, and for the second of those he was hooked before half-time at Bournemouth following William Saliba’s red card.

Sterling can expect a run of starts now, though, given Arsenal’s injury situation. Gabriel Jesus and Havertz are both out for the rest of the season, while Bukayo Saka and Martinelli each face another month on the sidelines.

That opens the door for Sterling and this feels like now or never for him in terms of his time at Arsenal, with the Gunners having seven games before the international break in the middle of next month.

“He’s been much more involved recently as well on his merit and he’s earned the right to do so,” said Arteta.

Sterling will likely play on the left over the coming games. Nwaneri has excelled on the right flank, scoring seven goals this season, and Arteta hinted he will stay there.

There has been the odd bright moment, but Sterling is still waiting for things to click at Arsenal

Long-term, Arteta is of the belief that Nwaneri could develop into a striker but he seems reluctant to deploy the 17-year-old there now.

“He’s been playing as an attacking midfielder and on the right wing and I think it’s been really good in that position, so that’s fine,” he said.

Sterling was signed as cover for Saka and to play on the right, but he has experience of playing on the left. There is an argument to say that cutting in from that side could suit him more and Arteta will hope it sparks him into life.

The finances around Sterling’s loan meant it was not much of a risk for Arsenal, however they would still have wanted more of a return than this.

Arsenal legend Ian Wright was bullish on the situation earlier this week, warning that Sterling risked going out with a “whimper” if he did not turn things around. There is still time for Sterling to ensure that is not the case - but it is running out.