Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta could take a big gamble and start Raheem Sterling against Tottenham in the North London Derby on Wednesday, January 15 to increase his team’s chances of winning. As per TBR Football, Sterling’s superior record against Spurs compared to any current Gunners player calls for the veteran winger to be handed a start in the crunch fixture.
Sterling has scored eight goals and assisted five times in 25 appearances against Tottenham, which exceeds any numbers any other player in the Arsenal squad have managed. Those came during his spells with Liverpool, Manchester City and then Chelsea, but he also played a short cameo in the Gunners’ 1-0 win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium earlier this season.
The winger was brought on to replace an injured Gabriel Jesus in Arsenal’s FA Cup tie against Manchester United last time out. Despite not winning the game, Sterling showed signs of confidence as he dribbled with great intent and took players on confidently. He completed five of his 10 dribbles attempts, managed two shots but failed to hit the target, played one key pass and also won eight duels in an eventful 80 minutes on the pitch as the game entered extra-time.
How could Sterling help against Tottenham?
Currently, Arsenal only have two options for players on the wing. Gabriel Martinelli is nailed down for the spot on the left, with Sterling and Leandro Trossard left to contest for the starting spot on the opposite side. However, the belief at the moment is with Sterling, who has shown more encouraging signs than the Belgian in recent times.
His unpredictable style of play combined with his knack of getting into good scoring positions in and around the penalty area make him a threat. Arsenal could surely use a lot of this considering the magnitude of the fixture ahead of them, combined with the time of the season it is coming at.
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The Gunners are six points behind league-leaders Liverpool, having played a game more than the Reds. They will also play the north London derby a day after the Reds face Nottingham Forest, and could be nine points behind in the table. Mikel Arteta will look to take the gamble of starting Sterling and hope it pays off.
