'Stinking out the place': Arsenal summer signing labelled FLOP of the season

Suraj Radia

• 21 Nov 2024 19:30 GMT
• 3 min read

One of Arsenal’s summer signings has been branded the ‘flop of the season’ and has been accused of ‘stinking out the place’ since his arrival.

Arsenal only brought in three new faces in the summer in Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino and Raheem Sterling but none have shown their best for the Gunners as of yet.

However, while Calafiori and Merino can blame injuries for their slow starts, Sterling has yet to make any significant contribution since his loan move from Chelsea despite staying healthy.

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The 29-year-old’s only notable influence came in the 5-1 Carabao Cup win over Bolton but, having played just 123 Premier League minutes this season, former England striker Stan Collymore has called out Sterling’s poor return so far.

“Sterling has been a massive disappointment,” Collymore told Metro. “He came in and said he was going to give the club his best work, but that hasn’t happened.

“He’s arguably stunk the place out so far and he’s definitely one of the flops of the season having promised to do his best work at Arsenal.

“He’s an experienced player who has won everything there is to win, he was expected to push the dressing room up another level and he hasn’t done that.”

Collymore calls out Arsenal transfer business

The deal for Sterling was concluded on deadline day with Arsenal only paying a fraction of his wages and also not contributing a loan fee, however he has still ended up proving underwhelming in his limited minutes thusfar.

Collymore was generally critical of Arsenal’s transfer business, describing Calafiori as ‘midly disappointing’ and also suggesting the club were wrong to get rid of Emile Smith Rowe.

“Arsenal spent £42 million on Riccardo Calafiori which has been a mildly disappointing move so far,’ Collymore said. “He’s had a couple of injuries, but he was meant to come in and be the man.

“Emile Smith Rowe’s move to Fulham also shows that Arsenal haven’t exactly been amazing in who they’ve let go, because he’s done very well for Fulham.

“Especially with the injury to Martin Ødegaard as well, Smith Rowe could’ve slotted into that position."