Arsenal expert Charles Watts has cast doubt over Raheem Sterling’s long-term future at the club, despite the winger having recently joined on loan from Chelsea.
Sterling, a well-established Premier League star with a decorated career, hasn’t quite lived up to expectations in his short stint at the Emirates so far, according to Watts.
Watts shared his thoughts exclusively in his latest Daily Briefing column for *CaughtOffside*, highlighting that Sterling’s time at Arsenal is likely to be short-lived. While Sterling has been a notable figure in English football, his performances at Arsenal suggest that he may be past his prime.
The England international has yet to replicate the kind of form he showed during his best years, leaving questions about whether Arsenal will extend his loan or make the move permanent.
In light of Sterling’s uncertain future, Arsenal has already been linked with potential replacements in the winger position. Among the names floated are Bournemouth’s Antoine Semenyo and Borussia Dortmund’s Jamie Gittens.
However, Watts remains skeptical about these transfer rumors for now, suggesting that it may be too early to discuss serious moves, especially with the January transfer window being notoriously difficult for major signings.
Watts addressed Semenyo’s case, noting the Bournemouth winger’s strong start to the season and his public declaration of being an Arsenal fan, which has piqued the interest of Gunners supporters. While Semenyo’s progress is something to watch, Watts was cautious, explaining that there’s no concrete information yet regarding Arsenal’s intentions to pursue the player.
He said, “Antoine Semenyo has had a strong start to the season for Bournemouth, and his comments about being an Arsenal fan have certainly caught the attention of some fans. But I have no idea whether Arsenal have any concrete plans to try and make his dream of playing for the club come true. It will be interesting to follow his progress this season.”
Watts also mentioned Jamie Gittens, a young talent who has been linked with a move to North London. However, as with Semenyo, Watts emphasized that it’s still too early to consider these links as definitive targets for Arsenal.
He explained that while the club is likely scouting options for the winger position, serious transfer activity might not occur until the summer transfer window.
“It’s really too early to be talking with any real substance about who the club might look to bring in to strengthen their squad. Gittens has caught the eye of late, and we know Arsenal will be looking at options out wide. They have Raheem Sterling right now, but it’s tough to see that loan being made permanent come the end of the campaign.”
