Gary Neville doubted the wish of Arsenal to sign Raheem Sterling before he claimed that the loan from the wing player contributed to the lack of things of the club in the January transfer window.
The 30-year-old signed last summer on Deadline Day from Chelsea to offer Mikel Arteta's attacking line. Despite the experience of Sterling in the Premier League – where he spent his entire football career – he is disappointed in North Londs with only one goal in 21 performances in all matches.
The signing of the four-fold Premier League winner came after Arsenal had not signed a striker, despite consistent ties to Alexander Isak from Newcastle and RB Leipzig's Benjamin Sesko. Introducing sterling only one day before the end of the window, Neville led to believe that his arrival was more about adding a team depth instead of a player to drastically improve the attacking collection of Arsenal.
On the stick to football podcast, brought by Sky Bet, the Manchester United icon claimed: “I am not sure if the club wanted to sign Sterling. I think Arteta's thought:” I can get him ahead, left, right wing “and he went inside and said:” He's my cover for those three positions. '
Neville has suggested that, in view of how pear -shaped the decision to sign Sterling, the chiefs of Gunners have ensured other potential deals, despite the growing latter list among attackers.
“I think what happened is that they have supported him and I think it has deposed them from the same kind in January because they think:” Well, we have already brought Raheem in, so if you are not going to use it, what a good thing to add someone else, “he said. “Then Havertz is suddenly injured and you're done.”
With Havertz and Gabriel Jesus out with seasonal injuries, and Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli who are currently missing with hamstring problems, started to see more time on the field and started last month in Arsenal's 2-0 win over Leicester City.
The International of England was replaced by Mikel Merino, who scored both goals in the tight victory, because Arteta remained challenging after full-time that Sterling still plays an important role, despite an overwhelming first half of the season in North London.
“Yes, and he must have it because we really need him,” said the Spaniard. “But we are all behind him, we are the best for him and it is really important and we need his best. And we only need the players with that mentality to be here to influence the team.”
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