Mikel Arteta has already made it clear that any player signed by Arsenal in the January transfer window must be capable of making an instant impact.
And as the Gunners boss comes to terms with another absentee in his forward line, it brings the standing of Raheem Sterling into even sharper focus.
Wednesday night’s north London derby is beginning to look like a battle between a team without its entire first-choice defence and a side down to the bare bones in attack.
But the expected long-term absence of Gabriel Jesus, joining Bukayo Saka and Ethwan Nwaneri on the sidelines, must provide a window for Sterling to make an impact.
If not then questions must be asked – because Sterling’s mere existence at the club is complicating the club’s recruitment plans in the winter window.
Arsenal are paying half of the England international’s £325,000 weekly wage but he has only racked up 146 minutes in the league, 39 in Europe and lasted a full 90 minutes just once in all competitions, away to Preston in the Carabao Cup in October.
Arteta has previously said he feels sympathy towards Sterling and would love to have used him more only for circumstances to deny such an opportunity.
“It’s been tough and very difficult for me as well to accept that I haven’t given him more,” he said in December.
“When he hasn’t started the games, 90 per cent of the subs that I make are related to saving minutes or because of injuries or avoiding injuries. It’s not for tactical reasons.
“I would like him to play much more as I think he can impact the team in a very good way. He’s very good in the dressing room and is absolutely desperate to play.”
That is all well and good but Sterling is using up one of two loan slots while making precious little impact and that means Arsenal will not be permitted to bring in another player on loan for the rest of the season.
And with Arteta also, correctly, surmising that this is a notoriously tough time to get a deal completed, that appears to have shut one potential route to bolstering his squad.
Arsenal’s other loanee has made little impact too with goalkeeper Neto, borrowed from Bournemouth, not even getting a look-in for the Cup games. That deal is likely to be revisited before Sterling’s but he is neither costing £162,500 a week nor playing in a position where the club needs quick help.
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