(Credit: Imago / Getty Images)

Ben Palmer

Wed 12 March 2025 18:50, UK

Mikel Arteta has surprised those around Raheem Sterling with how he has dealt with injury issues at Arsenal this season, reports The Mail.

Sterling joined Arsenal on-loan from Chelsea in the summer, having been frozen out by the Blues’ boss Enzo Maresca.

Bukayo Saka suffered a hamstring injury that required surgery in December, Gabriel Jesus was ruled out for the season with an ACL injury in January, and Kai Havertz will play no part in the rest of the Gunners’ campaign following an injury during the North London club’s mid-season trip to Dubai.

Despite those massive injuries to key players, Arteta has chosen to use other players ahead of Sterling in central positions, including Mikel Merino as a striker, despite the Spaniard never having played there during his professional career.

Mikel Arteta reluctant to use Raheem Sterling despite key injuries

In a report from The Mail, it has been revealed that those around Sterling are surprised he has not been given a chance down the middle at Arsenal, even after the injury to Havertz.

When joining the club, the pitch to the former Man City man was that he would not come in as a starter, instead being used as reinforcement on both wings behind Gabriel Martinelli and Saka.

However, there is believed to have been a reluctance from Arteta to put Sterling in and wait to build his confidence and momentum, so the Spaniard has instead opted to pick players who are deemed more ready to play straight away.

The Englishman’s time at Arsenal has not been without impact however, with Sterling viewed as an influential figure to Ethan Nwaneri.

Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta made to rue Emile Smith Rowe and other summer departures

Football Insider Verdict

Arsenal made the decision to sell Emile Smith Rowe and Eddie Nketiah to Fulham and Crystal Palace respectively this summer, whilst also allowing Reiss Nelson and Fabio Vieira to leave on-loan.

In terms of incoming transfers, Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino were the two major outfield signings, with Sterling arriving as cover.

However, the decision to allow key rotational pieces to leave, without any replacements, is a puzzling one.

Smith Rowe has seen the early stages of his career hampered by injuries, but the midfielder is showing exactly why Fulham were willing to make the Englishman their club record signing [Sky Sports], as he has become a key figure at Craven Cottage.

Part of Liverpool‘s success this season, and Man City’s in the preceding seasons, has been down to the luxury of options available to both clubs.

Whilst the Merseyside club have a recognisable starting XI, Arne Slot has not been afraid to rotate key players, using Cody Gakpo, Luis Diaz, Darwin Nunez and Diogo Jota interchangeably.

This has allowed Liverpool to maintain their winning form over the course of the season, whilst Arsenal have dropped off, now sitting 15 points behind their title rivals.