Raheem Sterling has been told he would be nothing more than a squad player at Arsenal.
Mark Lawrenson warned that the 29-year-old attacker is unlikely to play a prominent role for the Gunners this season.
After being frozen out by new Chelsea head coach Enzo Maresca, the 82-cap England player became a surprise target for the Gunners on transfer deadline day and has since then signed for Arsenal to play the entire season at The Emirates.
Sterling was brought in to challenge players like Bukayo Saka, Gabriel Martinelli, and Leandro Trossard for a wide attacking role and has played in games against both Tottenham and Atalanta, where he broke an incredible record.
Lawrenson on Raheem Sterling
However, Lawrenson believes that Mikel Arteta will only use him as a backup player going forward and that he won’t be playing more minutes.
“At Arsenal, I think Raheem Sterling will solely be used for squad depth, I don’t see him breaking into the starting team,” the former Match of the Day pundit said, as quoted by The Mirror.
”I’d imagine that the manager will have already told him that he’ll be a 25-minute man each week and that will be it, unless he does well when he gets a chance.
“I’ve been quite impressed with Arsenal in recent years and they know that the game against Manchester City this weekend is a massive game for them and I have a feeling that they will go to the Etihad and take home all three points,” he added.
With Arsenal vying for their first domestic title in over two decades, Sterling’s extensive experience has been hailed as a benefit for a team that agonisingly came close to beating Manchester City to the Premier League title the previous season.
The winger, who spent seven years of his career in City, could be named in Arteta’s starting line up this weekend when Arsenal take on his former team in this weekend’s high-profile encounter.
