Arsenal 2-1 Tottenham (Solanke OG 40′, Trossard 44′ | Son 25′)
EMIRATES STADIUM — Such is the state of mourning around Arsenal at the dire situation with their forwards the players all wore special shirts for Gabriel Jesus as they warmed up for the north London derby.
In case it wasn’t clear from this somewhat over-the-top gesture: Jesus hasn’t died, but he has torn the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee, and will be out for the season.
And the timing could barely be worse. Not only had Jesus started scoring, their front-line was already wearing worryingly thin. Bukayo Saka is ruled out until at least April, soon followed by Ethan Nwaneri, the 17-year-old Mikel Arteta was pinning his hopes on covering.
Until he scored against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday night, Leandro Trossard had not scored since November. Kai Havertz has never felt like a natural fit up front and his scoring is inconsistent to the point of frustration. Gabriel Martinelli has scored six in 28 this season.
Into the breach stepped Raheem Sterling, only a third league start of the season for the player loaned from Chelsea, where he was cast out, only a few years before winning title with Manchester City and a key forward for England, now a 30-year-old desperately in need to reviving a flagging career.
This is exactly why Arsenal signed him on transfer deadline day, to compete for a place and, at least, provide cover. Is he the answer in their time of need?
Sadly, watching his every interaction and involvement against Tottenham, it added up to a desperate game, with all the signs of a player lacking confidence and that wonderful bit of magic which made him such an unpredictable and deadly player, one who used to waltz through entire defences and pop up as if from nowhere with match-winning goals in major tournaments for England.
And it was not for lack of trying, from Sterling and his teammates, who tried to will him into the game. The frequent through balls by Martin Odegaard, one in the middle that Sterling was able to clip around Antonin Kinsky and looked as though he would score, before Archie Gray blocked; two more that resulted in crosses that went nowhere. Havertz kept trying to get him in the game.
But for a player whose burst of pace was such a weapon, it appears to have deserted him. Djed Spence, the Spurs left-back, dealt with Sterling every time. He tried stepovers, which Spence watched, read like a book, then tracked his run, mainly shepherding the ball out for goal kicks. He tried completely slowing play to a standstill, then sprinting towards the byline – again, Spence was equal to it, winning a goal kick.
At one point, when Odegaard played a high ball to him out on the touchline, he took a heavy touch, got the ball under control with his second, tried to dribble, lost it. A spectator yelled, “Do something for f***’s sake!”
Arteta, too, appeared frustrated in the dugout. So often Sterling seemed to slow attacks down, just when Arsenal needed to speed things up.
There were flashes of old Sterling. A nice backheel to find a free Jurrien Timber inside the box on the right. The few times he held up play reasonably well, and won dangerous free kicks.
Not a bad outlet for a team so dangerous from set-pieces.
Even in the second half, there appeared to be a half-time directive from Arteta for David Raya, his goalkeeper, to go long for Sterling to gamble off Havertz knock-ons. They did it twice in a couple of minutes. The first Sterling was unable to control, the second he won a corner. Again, useful for a team that had already scored from one.
It was a sign that Arteta wanted Arsenal to use him, to get him involved, to make it work, even though it wasn’t.
Sterling was never the most defensive of players, but he even showed signs of adapting to the times, when unless you are Lionel Messi, you have to chip in.
A few times he could be found on the edge of his own penalty area. Once or twice he dribbled the ball out in his own half to relieve pressure. He pressed Gray and Kinsky, forcing them into a clearance. It was all helpful.
But it probably wasn’t enough, not for a team chasing the title.
He had a great chance to score in the 57th minute, the ball at his feet in a good position to shoot, not too far out, central to goal. But he wasn’t quick enough to get it away, something that would’ve been no problem for the old Sterling.
Probably the most telling moment came in Arsenal’s winning goal.
His teammates had started to burst up the pitch while Sterling was still walking, inside his own half. Partey snapped the ball away from Yves Bissouma on the half-way line, releasing Odegaard, who released Trossard, who cut inside and fired the ball past Kinsky.
By the time the ball went in, Sterling had only just made it into a jog, not far from the halfway line.
He lasted 61 minutes. In his other two Premier League starts, he was subbed in the 60th minute against Southampton and the 37th against Bournemouth. It is dire stuff for halfway through the season.
In their last two games, the Carabao Cup and FA Cup defeats to Newcastle United and Manchester United, Arsenal had 49 shots and only 10 on target. Sterling isn’t going to solve that problem and this performance should sharpen focus.
They remain strong title contenders and moving within four points of Liverpool, who have a game in hand, ramps up pressure on Arne Slot’s side showing the first fleeting signs of cracking, with only one win in four.
Arsenal have funds to spend, albeit not limitless, and are actively in the market for players who can improve them team. And there are forwards out there.
Alexander Isak would be ideal, but Newcastle wouldn’t countenance a mid-season sale and Arsenal are unlikely to be able to afford the sort of meteoric sums it would take to change that.
Benjamin Sesko is a long-term target, although he signed a new contract at RB Leipzig in the summer.
Dusan Vlahovic is an option at Juventus. Liam Delap has impressed at Ipswich. Manchester United target Viktor Gyokeres has a reported £83m release clause.
Signing a player in January is notoriously difficult but, in the circumstances and with everything at stake, Arsenal may regret it if they don’t try.
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