'Worried': Martin Keown saw something concerning during Raheem Sterling's Arsenal debut vs Tottenham

09/17/2024 02:35 AM

Raheem Sterling made his Arsenal debut as he came on as a second-half substitute in the 1-0 win against Tottenham Hotspur.

Gabriel Magalhaes’ close-range header was the solitary goal of the game in the North London derby as Mikel Arteta’s side made it three wins and a draw to keep pace with Manchester City at the summit.

Sterling was introduced with ten minutes left on the clock for Gabriel Martinelli as he attempted to get on the ball and run at tired legs.

While he didn’t have too much to do in the short time he spent on the pitch, Martin Keown believes the England international is not up to speed to start games for his new club.

Martin Keown pinpoints worrying aspect of Raheem Sterling’s Arsenal debut

Sterling was initially stationed on the right flank but as Spurs attempted to up the ante in search of a late equaliser, he was asked to switch flanks in the closing stages of the game.

Keown feels Arteta’s decision to make that late change is due to Sterling’s fitness issues, with his cameo against Tottenham his first appearance of the 2024-25 Premier League campaign.

"I was a little bit worried when Sterling came on,” Keown said on talkSPORT (12:54 pm, Sept 16th).

“I don't know if you noticed, but right at the end, they swapped Sterling out, didn't they, put him on the opposite side because they kept getting in on the right hand.

“So Sterling has got to step up a bit. His fitness maybe is not what it needs to be, but I can understand that."

Sterling earned himself a Sofascore rating of 6.4 and touched the ball just three times, losing possession twice during his ten-minute cameo.

Sterling will get better with regular minutes

Kai Havertz says the Arsenal players are thrilled to have Sterling at the club, having also played with the 28-year-old during his spell with Chelsea.

The Englishman was frozen out of the squad by Blues boss Enzo Maresca and has played just ten minutes of football this season, so he is very much a work in progress for Arteta.

With Arsenal set to play once every three or four days between now and the next international break in November, the former Manchester City man will likely get more game time under his belt.

Theo Walcott feels Sterling and Arsenal are a match made in heaven and with the winger eager to make an impression after his deadline-day loan move across the London divide, he’ll only get better in the coming weeks.