Mikel Arteta finally proven right on Arsenal transfer decision but major Bukayo Saka blow hits

A summer transfer deadline day move for Raheem Sterling certainly raised a few eyebrows for those of an Arsenal persuasion. The Gunners needed to sign a forward and late in the day a loan deal with Chelsea was agreed.

It felt like a bit of a panic deal, having seen links with so many other forwards fall by the wayside. Benjamin Sesko had been the big link during the summer, but he instead decided to sign a new deal to stay at RB Leipzig.

Sterling arrived at the Emirates Stadium right as the window was about to close but early indications were that those feelings of it being something of a panic buy were correct. The former England international got minutes here and there, failing to tie down a regular spot in Mikel Arteta's first XI.

By the turn of the year Sterling had mustered just 146 minutes of football in the Premier League. It has not improved too much since and, when looking at his statistics, the forward has as many yellow cards this season as he does goal involvements.

And that has hampered his chances in the Champions League. Late on in the 2-2 draw with PSV in the second leg of the last 16 encounter, Sterling slid in unnecessarily on Johan Bakayoko, missing the ball completely and taking out the player.

The Arsenal man was promptly shown a yellow card - his third in the competition this season - and will miss the first leg of the game with Real Madrid as a result.

Sterling had, before then, been excellent in what was all-but a dead rubber of a match given Arsenal had won the first leg 7-1. He bagged two assists in the match and won the man of the match award from UEFA.

It has taken a while - seven months almost - but finally the decision to bring him in on loan from Chelsea has paid off. Given he is only on loan for the season, however, it's too little too late. And in a game that did not really mater either.

With Kai Havertz, Gabriel Jesus, Bukayo Saka and Gabriel Martinelli all out injured - Martinelli has now returned to action - Arteta has been crying out for some creativity and consistency in the forward department. Despite their absences, Sterling has rarely been called upon. He has rarely been trusted.

He showed, in what was almost a meaningless match of course, that he can be trusted and deserves another shot. He may well get it in the Premier League in the coming weeks now, but with the Gunners 15 points behind Liverpool with only ten games to play, the fixtures in the coming weeks could be similar to that of the PSV match - almost meaningless. That could help Sterling, but it is in the Champions League where he will want to make an impact, and he will have to wait until the second leg against Real Madrid now to get another chance.

By then Saka may well be back and that will only hamper Sterling's chances further.

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