William Gallas claims Mikel Arteta’s decision to sign Raheem Sterling and his subsequent use of him proves he just isn’t a world class manager.
Eyebrows were raised when the Arsenal boss turned to a player who had been deemed surplus to requirements by Chelsea on the ultimate day of the summer transfer window.
Sterling’s arrival on loan was seen as a low risk move given he was largely viewed as backup to the likes of Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard.
Arsenal’s two frontline wingers have each suffered significant injuries this season but even of their absences, Arteta has used the 30-year-old sparingly.
Teenager Ethan Nwaneri has jumped ahead of the England international within the Spaniard’s pecking order and the nadir for Sterling arrived at Old Trafford last weekend.
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With Arsenal chasing a late winner, Arteta left Sterling floundering on the bench and as an alternative opted to deploy Kieran Tierney as a makeshift winger.
Sterling did give a timely reminder of his qualities in midweek, delivering two assists in a person of the match performance against PSV Eindhoven, but Gallas feels that display has come to late to salvage any hope of joining Arsenal on a everlasting basis.
‘Arteta brings in players, and puts them on the bench, you never give the fellows the prospect,’ the previous Arsenal captain told Prime Casino.
‘Why did you bring the players? Why did you bring Sterling? Everybody knew that he didn’t have the standard he had at Liverpool and Manchester City, but once you brought him firstly of the season, you never gave him a likelihood.
‘Especially when it is best to have been rotating, you never gave him minutes on the wing. As a substitute, you kept him on the bench, all the time used the identical players, and now they’re drained and Sterling’s confidence has completely evaporated.
‘That’s why I say he’s a great coach, but not top class, not world-class.’
No matter his long-term future, Sterling, who still has two years left on his Chelsea contract, is confident he can play a significant role in Arsenal’s pursuit of European glory with a glamour Champions League quarter final against Real Madrid on the horizon.
‘I’m still faithful that I even have still got a giant part to play,” he said.
‘You’ll be able to only control what you may control. I even have not had as many minutes as I’d have liked but I even have had the opportunities.
‘It’s right down to myself to maintain knocking on the door. I imagine inside myself that I even have lots to play here, whether it’s 10 minutes, 45 or a start. I just must be ready and take a look at and help the team as much as possible.
‘Yes we’re a couple of points behind [in the Premier League] but there are all different circumstances [for that]. I believe the boys have done very well and within the last little bit of the season [are ready] to provide it a right push.’
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