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Why Raheem Sterling is not in the Arsenal squad vs Chelsea
Raheem Sterling has been omitted from Arsenal’s squad for Sunday’s trip to Chelsea having spent the last three games on the bench.
The winger has started just two Premier League matches since his arrival at the Gunners on deadline day and has largely featured as a bit-part player. His only two other line-up inclusions have come in the League Cup.
After beginning the 3-1 league win over Southampton last month, Sterling was taken off 37 minutes into the subsequent 2-0 defeat to Bournemouth upon William Saliba’s red card as Mikel Arteta reshuffled his tactics.
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Sterling’s omission against Chelsea means he will have gone a full month without Premier League minutes by the time the international break is over.
His only appearances in the three weeks since have come in the form of a 22-minute spell against Shakhtar Donetsk in the Champions League and a full 90 minutes in the 3-0 win over Preston North End in the League Cup.
The loanee has been left out of Mikel Arteta’s squad due to Chelsea being his parent club, as per Premier League loan rules.
Arsenal are meanwhile sweating over the fitness of Declan Rice, who failed to train before Friday having picked up a knock against Newcastle United last week. He missed the midweek Champions League loss to Inter as a result of his issue.
The Gunners will also assess Mikel Merino and Kai Havertz who both picked up head injuries at the San Siro. Martin Odegaard is expected to feature given his returning cameo against Inter, his first outing since recovering from ligament damage sustained two months ago. It is uncertain whether he is fit enough to start the game.
Chelsea are meanwhile set to make a late call on Cole Palmer, who has been nursing a problem sustained at Manchester United last Sunday. Sancho also faces a fitness test having missed the past two clashes with a knock.
