Havertz has been ruled out for the rest of the season with a hamstring problem, in a significant blow to Arsenal’s Premier League title hopes.
Arsenal legend Wright feels it’s now or never for Sterling to step up and replace Havertz ahead of the Gunners’ clash against Leicester City.
Sterling has largely underwhelmed at Arsenal since joining the club on a season-long loan from Chelsea, with former Liverpool striker Stan Collymore brutally labelling the 30-year-old the ‘flop of the season’.
The winger has produced just one goal and two assists across 18 games, although it should be noted he’s had injury issues and struggled for regular playing time, commonly coming on as a late substitute under Mikel Arteta.
‘The opportunity has arisen for him,’ Wright said when quizzed if Sterling could replace Havertz on Stick to Football, brought to you by Sky Bet.
‘This the time where he should buckle down and say, ‘I have to make this work’ – otherwise, he’ll go out with a whimper.
‘The last time I saw him come on and do something in a short space of time was against Manchester United. That’s what you want to see from him, just come on and try to make something happen.
‘The fans are hoping as well – you can hear their groans, so you feel that he’s in that place where if he doesn’t do anything positive, he can hear them coming – and that’s not a great place to be.’
While Sterling has struggled for form on the pitch this term, his influence and experience off the pitch is highly valued at the Emirates.
Sterling, a four-time Premier League winner with previous club Manchester City, is thought to be an popular figure in the Arsenal dressing room.
There was talk of the Englishman, capped 82 times by the Three Lions, returning to Chelsea in the January transfer window but he was keen to stay at Arsenal and help them win the their first top-flight title in 21 years.
Earlier this month, former Manchester United winger Lee Sharpe backed Sterling to turn his Arsenal career around heading into the business end of the season.
‘Perhaps he hasn’t had the impact Mikel Arteta thought he would, but I think he’s shown glimpses that he still has quality and something to offer going forward,’ Shape told Texas Poker.
‘I’m not sure why he’s not getting picked, maybe it’s something Arteta has seen in training or something else.
‘It’s a shame to see because we know he is capable of producing on the pitch, it’s just a matter of getting that out of him.
‘I don’t think this is the last we’ve heard from him this season.’
Wright, though, would be shocked if Arsenal decided to turn Sterling’s loan into a permanent transfer at the end of the current 2024-25 campaign.
‘Raheem is having a tough time,’ Wright said last month. ‘The way it looks, you get the impression that we’re not going to sign him long-term.’
0 Comments