Emmanuel Petit has lamented the demise of Raheem Sterling and fears the Arsenal loanee has lost his appetite for the game.
The 29-year-old’s career has stalled badly since leaving Manchester City for Chelsea two years ago.
Sterling was brutally told he was surplus to requirements by Enzo Maresca in the summer but a loan move across London to Arsenal appeared to represent the perfect opportunity to relaunch his career.
Mikel Arteta enjoyed a productive relationship with the player during their time together at City but he has played only a bit-part role this season.
Indeed, Sterling has started just one Premier League game so far, and is firmly behind the likes of Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard in Arteta’s pecking order.
‘Something just doesn’t seem to be right with Raheem Sterling this season. If you take away his speed, what else does he offer?’ Petit told Gambling Zone.
‘I have the feeling that Sterling is not hungry anymore – I said this a couple of weeks ago.
‘I think he thinks that he’s achieved all he needs to achieve in football and this isn’t how it works in top level professional football.
‘I think this is why he’s not performing because he doesn’t want to keep going and he doesn’t have the same ambition as when he was a youngster.
‘Chelsea will put him on the transfer market in the summer and he will have to cut his wages if he wants to leave, if not he will stay and no-one will ever see him on the team sheet again.’
Last month, Arteta had offered hope that Sterling could be set for an increased role over the hectic Christmas period.
‘I would like to see him more to be fair and this is down to me,’ the Spaniard said before Arsenal’s 5-2 thrashing over West Ham. ‘He’s trying his best.
‘His application and commitment around the team has been exceptional and now it’s time for me to five I’m more minutes.’
Despite that, Sterling has been an unused sub in the Gunners’ last three games, a stretch which has seen Arteta’s side extend their unbeaten run to seven games in all competitions. They face Everton at home on Saturday.
This article was first published on December 6.
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