Arsenal made the late addition of Raheem Sterling on deadline day which gives them something they needed – depth.
The Gunners have been challenging for trophies across the past two seasons, transforming themselves into the second best team in the land. Mikel Arteta has created an impressive outfit, but one criticism has been the lack of cover and quality beyond their starting XI.
Go back two seasons and a number of their top players played in every game – or close to it. Last term they evolved, but there was still a huge onus on their elite players with the feeling being they couldn’t be without a star performer and cope in the fact that say, Manchester City, could.
Sterling’s arrival brings with it plenty of pluses. Premier League-winning experience is one but also the forward is very versatile across the frontline and can allow Arteta to shuffle his options, especially in those weeks where they might play two or three times.
The Chelsea loanee is already on a plan to get him up to speed so that he can be unleashed once football returns following the international break. His missed the opening weeks of the campaign and Arsenal want to make sure he is good to go.
One man who is likely to benefit more than most is Bukayo Saka – who has become a talismanic figure at the Emirates. The academy graduate is the leading light and often the team’s go to man as his stock rises with every passing season.
Because of that though Saka is often called upon time and time again. Rest is a luxury he is rarely afforded, in part due to the fact Arsenal don’t have good enough cover down the right. In Sterling they have a man they can throw in on that side of that pitch and allow Saka to take a breather.
Raheem Sterling’s ability to play wide can allow Bukayo Saka periods of rest
It also offers them a right-footed option down the right as opposed to the left foot of Saka. That gives them the ability to mix things up and make their right-side attack more unpredictable, especially against teams who are likely to sit in, forcing Arsenal to break them down.
Arteta may also, on occasion, opt to use Sterling as a central option. Much was made of the fact Arsenal never landed a No 9 in the summer – which was perhaps the position they needed to strengthen most. Gabriel Jesus remains their only natural striker with Kai Havertz also beginning to establish himself there.
Kai Havertz may be able to further himself as the club’s No 10 if Raheem Sterling plays centrally – which also opens the possibility of Martin Odegaard having some time to recover
The German scored in the draw with Brighton but, having never been signed as a striker, the long-term plan is unlikely to be to settle on Havertz as the team’s main source of goals. Sterling in his City days showed he can be prolific – often producing big numbers – and Arteta may back him to do so again.
If Sterling does play through the middle that could allow Havertz to have more minutes in a deeper role, slipping back into a No.10 position, which also gives Arteta the option to rest Odegaard. If he was loathe to bench all of his top players the Arsenal boss could rotate the Norwegian and Saka’s down periods.
Raheem Sterling – when he’s been most prolific – has played from the left
Despite talk of Sterling serving as a back-up to Saka it is actually from the left where the Englishman is most comfortable. Like so many wingers these days playing on the opposite side to their preferred foot allows them to come inside and the left flank is perhaps one of the less secured spots in the Arsenal line-up.
Gabriel Martinelli is not producing the levels he has in the past with Leandro Trossard potentially replacing him in the pecking order, but even the Belgian is not a guaranteed starter with his versatility also a plus. If Sterling is to find a permanent home, with Saka unlikely to be dislodged on a regular basis, the left could be it.
