There was a time in Raheem Sterling's career when he didn't have to think.
Sliding in from the left to slot home at the back post after Riyad Mahrez's pass across the six-yard box became a perennial – and seemingly unstoppable – feature of Manchester City's exciting attacking repertoire.
Sterling would often return the favor to his Algerian counterpart. Like clockwork. We would see Sterling score the same goal or provide the same assist week after week after week.
Of course there was more to his game. Just ask Pep Guardiola. There was freedom and buoyancy in Sterling that captured the imagination. But recently, that muscle memory has eluded him.
The Sterling who emerged as one of European football's most prominent attacking talents – remember he scored an impressive 53 goals and assists for City in 2019, behind only Lionel Messi (55) – is now a shadow of his former self . .
The sight of Sterling's pained expression as he trudged off the pitch after his 61st-minute substitution in Wednesday night's north London derby was an uphill task.
Did I do that? Should I? What if? You could see Sterling's brain working overtime during what was an ineffective hour for the striker in what was undoubtedly his biggest night in an Arsenal shirt to date.
And therein lies the problem for Sterling as he attempts to return to north London after being sent away by Chelsea last summer. Overthinking on a football field is a mood killer. That effervescent image we had come to associate with the 30-year-old has deserted him during his loan spell at the Emirates Stadium.
A player, as those behind the scenes at Arsenal will tell you, is suffering from a crisis of confidence, which is perhaps understandable given the off-field attention he receives. Everyone has an opinion about Sterling, and if those judgments are negative, it can be difficult to avoid.
Not that Mikel Arteta isn't writing him off yet. With Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Jesus out on long-term injuries, Arsenal need Sterling more than ever. They are down to four fit players, alongside Kai Havertz, Leandro Trossard and Gabriel Martinelli, and are still – just about – in three competitions.
Arteta praised Sterling's performance after coming on as a 40th-minute substitute for Jesus in the FA Cup third round against Manchester United when the Brazilian suffered a cruciate ligament injury that will rule him out for a year.
Even in his disappointing performance against Tottenham on Wednesday night, Sterling won more duels and made more tackles than any player on the pitch during the opening 45 minutes. Those are the kind of numbers that go unnoticed, but that Arteta certainly appreciates.
Yet defensive discipline was not what Sterling signed up for and you sense the Emirates crowd want more from the forward. That's understandable. We remember the player he was; the achievements during seven trophy-laden years at the Etihad.
Of course, his career at City wasn't always smooth sailing. When he started under Guardiola, he was linked with an exit during the early months of the Spaniard's reign.
During England's disastrous Euro 2016 campaign, Sterling branded himself the 'hated' one after criticizing his performances in France during the tournament.
Sterling is used to being in the line of fire, but overall his performances and numbers have kept him out of reach. External criticism and pressure is something that Sterling has historically had to fight hard for.
Some players may disconnect from social media and the world of 24-hour news. But Sterling isn't cut from that cloth. With that in mind, the criticism leveled at him in recent weeks is unlikely to have gone unnoticed.
It is of course acknowledged that his move from Chelsea to London has not developed in the way he would have liked. Sterling will accept that. But Arteta would also be the first to admit that the circumstances of an injury-marred season have worked in Sterling's favour.
And when he did get the chance, he was forced to make it in the 30th minute of his second Premier League start for the club, as Arteta was forced to change course following the departure of William Saliba at Bournemouth on October 19.
Last month the Arsenal manager said: 'It was tough and very difficult for me to accept that I didn't give him more. If he hasn't started the games yet, 90 percent of the subs I make are due to minutes gain or due to injuries or injury avoidance. They are not tactical reasons.
'I would like him to play a lot more because I think he can influence the team in a very good way. He is very good in the dressing room and is absolutely desperate to play. Hopefully we can change it.”
Finding rhythm and match fitness are the most relevant factors behind Sterling's problems. He has made just seven league appearances so far (four of them from the substitutes' bench) and just thirteen in total. His only goal for Arsenal came in the 5-1 League Cup win against Bolton. These are certainly not ideal circumstances for players who end up in a new team.
Those formidable attacking combinations and almost telepathic insights he had developed with team-mates at City were out of reach due to his lack of playing time. A knee injury I suffered last month didn't help either.
Yet there is still time to change the narrative. Talk to people at the club's training headquarters. They will describe a player who has maintained his professionalism despite the inconsistencies.
Sitting on the bench for someone of Sterling's heft is not easy, but he has been respectful and encouraging in every way to those ahead of him in the pecking order.
With Arsenal looking to strengthen their attacking ranks ahead of next season, it seems likely his time in north London will come to an end in the summer, with Chelsea making it clear he is not part of their plans.
Sterling wants to play at the highest level for as long as possible. His obsession this season to prove his worth will ensure he gets the opportunities to realize those ambitions heading into next season.
Given his body of work, it would be a risk to bet against Sterling. His achievements speak for themselves. The trophies, the goals, the assists, 82 caps for England and a starring role in the run-up to the Euro 2020 final. He deserves respect.
But the past matters little, Sterling doesn't need to be reminded of that. Can he prove people wrong… again?
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