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Despite Raheem Sterling missing a penalty, Arsenal have qualified comfortably for the round of 16 of the UEFA Champions League by beating Girona 2-1 in their last group match last Wednesday, January 29.
The Gunners finished third behind Liverpool and Barcelona to qualify for the next round.
Amid the fact that Ethan Nwaneri once again caught the eyes to score the match-winner for Mikel Arteta’s men, which was his sixth goal of the season, Raheem Sterling’s missed penalty was a negative for the Gunners.
Sterling has done nothing so far to justify his move to the North London club from Chelsea on loan.
A Very Ordinary Raheem Sterling at Arsenal
Sterling has made 15 appearances for the Gunners this season, most of them as substitutes.
He has managed to score a solitary goal for them and has not been able to provide Arsenal with the much-needed option on the right flank in the absence of an injured Bukayo Saka.
For a player, who has won multiple Premier League titles with Manchester City and has also enjoyed stints at Liverpool and Chelsea, Sterling’s form for Arsenal has been quite disappointing.
Saka’s injury provided him with a chance to shine for Arsenal, but his indifferent form has forced Arteta to try playing Gabriel Martinelli and Saka in tandem on the right flank, as Gabriel Jesus is not available currently either.
At the age of 30, Sterling should still have a few years left in top-flight football. He has scored 174 goals in 564 matches in his senior career so far, which makes him one of the most experienced players in England at the moment.
Hence, this sudden fall from grace must have been tough to digest for the former England international.
Sterling has also found him out of favour in the national team set-up of late, which means that he should find it really difficult to revive his international career.
He has made 82 appearances for the Three Lions, but might not be able to add to that tally.
Slim Chances of a Trophy
Arsenal should find it considerably difficult to win any silverware this season.
While they are a distant second to Liverpool in the Premier League, having dropped nine points more than the Reds so far, winning the Champions League might also prove to be too tough a task.
Hence, Sterling’s chances of securing any silverware seem very slim at the moment, given the fact that Arsenal are already out of both the cup competitions.
Arteta has found the Premier League title to be really elusive in the past, and there is very little to suggest that the ongoing season is going to be any different.
This might turn out to be Sterling’s last season at any top club. He will be 31 this season, and might not find any taker among the elite clubs of England come next summer.
The Englishman’s contract with Chelsea runs till 2026, but the Blues might sell him before that, with the Gunners also seemingly unlikely to extend his loan or sign him for the upcoming season.
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TODAY'S BEST
Ex-Chelsea midfielder warns Liverpool about potential difficulty they’ve ‘brought on themselves’
Romano: One Man United deal collapsed this week after player rejected the proposed transfer
Manchester United are now on the cusp of agreeing a deal for Benjamin Sesko after submitting their first bid on Tuesday afternoon – but it wasn’t the first proposal they’d sent RB Leipzig’s way. Indeed, the two clubs had been in negotiations for several days to discuss the terms of Sesko’s prospective move to Old Trafford, with Leipzig angling to receive a player in return. The German outfit had set their sights on a like-for-like replacement in the form of Rasmus Hojlund, according to Fabrizio Romano. However, the 22-year-old rejected the premise, prompting United to formally offer a cash-only transfer. Rasmus Hojlund rejects Leipzig move in proposed Benjamin Sesko swap It comes after Hojlund publicly expressed his desire to stay put at Old Trafford on numerous occasions, particularly in the last week when the side began upping the ante in their pursuit of Sesko. He may well have no say in the matter if the Slovenian does sign in the coming week, though. It’s previously been claimed that Hojlund would be sold in the event another centre-forward signs due to United losing faith in their £64 million acquisition, who found the back of the net just four times in 32 Premier League matches last term. The No.9 would also have to accept the fact he’d be playing second fiddle to Sesko following a campaign in which he was the first-choice to lead the line almost every week. Sesko to rebuff Newcastle approach in favour of United As for Sesko, 22, he is favouring the switch to Manchester despite Newcastle United’s desperate pleas for him to join Eddie Howe’s depleted ranks. So far this window, the Magpies have missed out on the likes of Liam Delap, Joao Pedro, Bryan Mbeumo and Hugo Ekitike, leaving them floundering amid reports Alexander Isak is waiting on Liverpool’s call.
Deal close: Fabrizio Romano drops morning update as ‘breathtaking’ Liverpool maestro nears exit
Vikings offense has sizable hole following first-round WR's NFL ruling
The Minnesota Vikings will be without one of their top wide receivers for the start of the regular season. On Tuesday, wideout Jordan Addison was suspended without pay for the season's first three games after pleading no contest earlier this offseason to a "wet reckless" charge. He was initially charged with DUI on July 12, 2024 and pleaded not guilty to those counts on Dec. 3, 2024. In July 2023, he was also cited for speeding a reckless driving when going 140 mph in a 55 mph zone. During his first two seasons, Addison, a 2023 first-round pick (No. 23 overall), has 133 receptions, 1,786 receiving yards (13.4 yards per reception) and 19 touchdowns. During that span, only Cincinnati Bengals wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase, Tampa Bay Buccaneers wide receiver Mike Evans and Detroit Lions wide receiver Amon-Ra St. Brown have more receiving touchdowns. His absence is a blow to the Vikings offense, entering its first season with 2024 first-round pick J.J. McCarthy as the starting quarterback. While McCarthy will still have arguably the NFL's best wide receiver, Justin Jefferson, to throw to during the season's first three weeks, Addison's suspension severely compromises the team's depth. Jalen Nailor, a 2022 sixth-rounder, should be in line for an increase in playing time. Last season, he played a career-high 51 percent of his available offensive snaps, via Pro Football Reference. Offseason free-agent signings Rondale Moore and Tim Jones, 2025 third-round pick Tai Felton and undrafted free agents Lucky Jackson and Silas Bolden could also be forced into more prominent roles. Last season, Moore missed the entire year after suffering a training-camp knee injury with the Atlanta Falcons, while Jones had just three receptions on five targets for the Jacksonville Jaguars. Felton and Bolden are rookies and might not be ready for heavy workloads, while Jackson is possibly having the best training camp of the group, recently making impressive plays on back-to-back days. Regardless of who takes Addison's snaps, the Vikings offense won't be at full strength to begin the season. Opponents will be able to focus their attention on Jefferson with double-teams and force Minnesota's unproven secondary and tertiary options to beat them. It's not an ideal set of circumstances for McCarthy as he preps for his regular-season debut, but the Vikings have no other choice than to make it work.
Aaron Judge Assigns Blame As Yankees Continue to Sprial
Aaron Judge didn’t ease into his return. After missing over two weeks with a strain in his right elbow, the Yankees’ captain was activated Tuesday and inserted as the designated hitter. But his presence wasn’t enough to stop the bleeding or the finger-pointing. As the Yankees dropped their fifth straight game, falling 2-0 to the Rangers, the calls for a change in leadership were growing louder. Yankees fans were howling for Aaron Boone’s job and wanted Brian Cashman to be sent packing with him. But, Judge made it clear who bears the blame. “About us in this room, we’ve got to step up, look ourselves in the mirror and do our job,” he said. That was the message from a captain who went 0-for-3 with two strikeouts in his first game back. Judge didn’t shift the focus to his own timing at the plate or the limitations of his injury. He kept the spotlight squarely on the team’s performance and their accountability. New York has now lost 19 of its last 27 games and watched a once-secure playoff position slip into a Wild Card race that’s tightening by the day. The loss dropped them behind Boston and just a half-game ahead of Texas for the final AL Wild Card spot. Mistakes continue to mount. On Tuesday, it was another bullpen collapse, another critical misplay in the field, and another night where the offense failed to deliver in key spots. For Judge, the diagnosis was simple. Do your job. With the standings getting tighter, Judge’s words carry weight. The Yankees have time to turn this around, but not if they keep looking elsewhere for answers or excuses. The answers, as Judge reminded everyone Tuesday night, have to come from within.
Kolby Aipa, Surf Royalty, Tragically Dies in E-Bike Accident
On Saturday night, surf royalty heir Kolby Aipa was involved in a tragic accident in Huntington Beach, CA. The 20-year-old grandson of iconic and innovative Hawaiian surfboard shaper, Ben Aipa, was put on life support; on Tuesday, he passed away. According to reports, Aipa was towing behind a car of friends on his e-bike when the accident happened. He was struck by the same vehicle that was towing him. Since the news of his untimely passing, an outpouring of mourning from the surf community – from Hawaii to Huntington Beach – has been flooding in. “This is the hardest post we will ever make,” began the tribute from the official Aipa Surf Company account. “We are completely heartbroken. We wanted to thank all the visitors, supporters, food deliveries, donations, flowers, cards, countless stories and photos his friends have shared with us, Drs and nurses that have taken care of our sweet boy. The HB community and everyone around the world have touched our hearts in an unimaginable way. Thank you for loving our boy.” Following in his strong surfing lineage, Kolby was an up-and-coming surfer himself. He was sponsored by the clothing brand AVVA, Dakine, Cobian footwear, and others. He was a member of the Huntington Beach Board Riders club. The Aipa Surf Co. post announcing his passing continued, speaking to Kolby as a human: “Kolby always had a way with touching the lives of whoever he met. His acts of kindness and caring was his gift of Aloha to friends and strangers alike. To everyone that reads this... pass his Aloha on. So, how Kolby treated you, treat others in that same way...In this you are continuing his legacy of Aloha. And you too can be like Kolby.” A memorial paddle-out for Kolby is being planned; stay tuned for more information. Rest in peace, Kolby Aipa. To donate to the GoFundMe, see here.
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