Raheem Sterling disappointed in his Arsenal debut, even though he came on as a late substitute, and his previous flaws were evident.
Raheem Sterling was criticised for his short Arsenal debut (Image: 2024 Allstar)
Raheem Sterling made his debut for Arsenal on Sunday, appearing as a late substitute during the Gunners' North London derby win over Tottenham.
At 29, Sterling has now played for four of the traditional Big Six clubs, with Manchester United and Tottenham being the only ones he has not yet represented. Sterling's move to Arsenal comes after he was sidelined by Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who openly sought to offload the England winger during the summer transfer window.
In his brief stint on the pitch during the derby, Sterling struggled to maintain possession, and his performance, alongside that of fellow substitute Gabriel Jesus, faced criticism. A recurring criticism of Sterling throughout his career has been his lack of composure in crucial moments, a flaw evident once again on Sunday.
One social media user noted that among the Arsenal substitutes, only 17-year-old Ethan Nwaneri managed to stay composed in the final moments, contrasting sharply with Sterling and Jesus. They commented, "You send on Jesus, Sterling, and Nwaneri, and the only one who keeps their head in those dying moments is the 17-year-old."
Another user humorously referenced a Jamie Carragher clip from last season, where Carragher advised Manchester United's Casemiro, "Leave the football before the football leaves you... the football's left him."
While it's still early in Sterling’s Arsenal career, he will need to show significant improvement to prove himself as a valuable addition to the team.
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