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Rio Ferdinand delivers his verdict on Raheem Sterling’s performance for Arsenal vs Tottenham

Lucas Arnold

Wed 15 January 2025 22:31, UK

Raheem Sterling was handed a rare start in Arsenal’s North London Derby win against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening.

Mikel Arteta’s Arsenal side started well, but as has often bee𝓀n the case in the Derby over the years, Son Heung-min was still able to provide a sucker punch at the Emirates Stadium.

For a while, 𓆉Arsenal’s confidence seemed to have taken a hit, an understandable respon𝓰se given defeats last week.

However, Gabriel Magalhaes then well and truly settled things down, proving why Arsenal are more th♋an happy to be called ‘Set Piece FC’.

Thereafter, Leandro Trossard took advan🌼tage of Antonin📖 Kinsky’s erratic goalkeeping, a North London Derby debutant who seemed slightly overwhelmed by the occasion.

Rio Ferdinand thought Raheem Sterling played it safe against Tottenham

That being said, Sterling was a🎉lso somewhat chucked into the deep end given how little he’s played for Aဣrsenal since arriving on loan from Chelsea.

Sterling has scored eight times against Tottenham in the past, but wa♛sn’t able to add to that tally in his 61 minute♌s.

READ MORE: Arsenal had ‘concerns’ about £32m signing in the summer but Mikel Ar💎teta pushed through a deal🐲 anyway

Rio Ferdinand, who was watching the g♎ame for , shared his review of Sterling’s performanc♐e shortly before he was subbed off.

Sterling wasn’t poor by any means, but he also didn’t quite prove why he should continue on the ri🅘ght ahead of Gabriel Martinelli.

Sharing his verdict, Ferdinand said: “I think he’s kept it simple, I don’t thinꦇk he’s took too many 🐼risks.

“I think there’s been opportunities where he’s got the defender one vs one and not b🅺een as assertive as we’d normally see Rah💫eem Sterling.

“But that ဣmay be a lack of confidence and game time I’m sure.” 

Arsenal need Ethan Nwaneri back from injury as soon as possible

Perhaps Sterling himself will 💖be frustrated on reflection – he had a realℱ opportunity to lay down his marker for the coming weeks.

But as Ferdi෴nand concluded, he seemed to avoid any actions that would risk the ball, bu✤t that inhibited anything positive as well.

Of course, Arteta wonꩵ’t൲ spend too long worrying about any negatives from the win, one that was much-needed regardless of how it came.

Ar🐼senal did deserve their three points, even if they missed a ton of chances.

And it was abundantly clear once again why Arsenal are being linked with Dusan Vlahovic and other top strikers across Europe.