The Premier League title race looks all-but-over for Arsenal this season, with their draw against Manchester United leaving them 15 points behind leaders Liverpool.

Though they have a game in hand which could shorten the gap to 12 points, it would take a stunning fall from Arne Slot's side in their final nine games of the season to open the door for the Gunners in the title race.

The issues have been clear for some time for Arsenal, with their entire first-choice front three facing long spells on the sidelines. Mikel Arteta was clear in January about the need to bring in reinforcements, but none arrived and his side have struggled for goals with the likes of Mikel Merino utilised as an unorthodox striker.

READ MORE: Kai Havertz shares new five-word Arsenal injury update after hamstring surgery

READ MORE: Arsenal may have finally found their Wilfried Zaha transfer alternative amid £49m release clause

Though Merino did in fact grab both the goals in the 2-0 win over Leicester City, Arsenal have struggled to create big chances of late in the league, in stark contrast to their midweek exploits in the Champions League with their progression to the quarter-finals all-but secured thanks to a 7-1 win over PSV Eindhoven.

At Old Trafford, the Gunners were again looking a little blunt in attack, with half-chances coming here and there and their set-pieces defended stoutly by the hosts. Gabriel Martinelli was back in the matchday squad for the first time in a month, and was introduced just before the hour mark.

But as the visitors struggled to create chances, there was another man on the bench who was conspicuous by his absence: Raheem Sterling. On Sky Sports' broadcast, Gary Neville noted the lack of appearance for the on-loan Chelsea man, with Kieran Tierney then coming onto the pitch and playing as a left-winger as the Gunners went in search of a winner after Declan Rice's equaliser. That the left-back was used speaks volumes, given he is almost guaranteed to move back to Celtic in the summer.

Hopes at the start of the season will have been that Sterling would be able to come into the side as an experienced head and effect games with his uncanny ability to be in the right place at the right time to score. But in truth it's been an underwhelming season so far for the 30-year-old.

Sterling has started just four Premier League games this season, with another two starts coming in effectively dead-rubbers at the end of the Champions League group stage. His only goal of the season so far came in a 5-1 win against Bolton in the third round of the Carabao Cup.

There can be no doubt that Arteta has made his mind up, and Sterling's future is not at Arsenal. It seems likely Chelsea will be attempting to move him on again this summer, either on loan or on a permanent deal.