Mikel Arteta has been accused of ‘disrespecting’ Raheem Sterling during Arsenal’s Premier League draw with Manchester United.
Arsenal fell further behind Premier League champions-elect Liverpool at the weekend as they were held to a 1-1 draw by United.
The Gunners dominated the opening 45 minutes of Sunday’s clash but still went in behind after Bruno Fernandes broke the deadlock with a superb free-kick.
Declan Rice earned Arsenal a point with a 74th-minute equaliser but the result still saw Arteta’s side slip even further behind Liverpool, who now boast a 15-point lead at the top of the table.
Arteta brought on Gabriel Martinelli and Myles Lewis-Skelly as Arsenal chased an equaliser and then introduced Kieran Tierney shortly after Rice breached United’s resistance.
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But the decision to bring on full-back Tierney ahead of Sterling at that stage of the game was ‘disrespectful’, according to Joe and Carlton Cole.
Tierney was asked to play in a more advanced role following his introduction and the former England duo felt it was ‘disrespectful’ that ‘proper player’ Sterling was overlooked.
Sterling has underwhelmed at the Emirates Stadium this season, scoring just one goal following his loan move from Arsenal’s London rivals Chelsea.
Asked about Arteta’s decision to keep Sterling on the bench as Arsenal chased a winner at Old Trafford, Carlton Cole said on The Dressing Room podcast: ‘That’s disrespectful.
‘Raheem is a proper player, we know that. I actually think he did alright at Chelsea, I don’t think he done bad. He didn’t suit the club, he’s getting on and they want to get youngsters in.
‘But he’s gone to Arsenal and I was thinking he was going to do well. Forget about all the noise, actions say a lot.
‘They needed a goal and he brought on Kieran Tierney instead of a seasoned pro, a goalscorer that might get back on track. He could make something happen. For me, I would say that’s disrespectful.’
Joe Cole added: ‘Raheem will see it as that, for sure.
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‘For me, it didn’t work out for Raheem at Chelsea but I thought Arsenal would have been perfect, it made sense. But Arteta’s just not using him.
‘There’s reports coming out that he’s training well and is respected by the coaching staff but if Mikel Arteta is doing that… I feel for him.’
Arteta played down his decision to overlook Sterling when speaking at his pre-PSV press conference on Tuesday.
‘It’s the same with the rest of the players,’ he said. ‘We make decisions on the day which player we believe fits better in the manner that the game is developing.
‘He’s come on in many of the games and didn’t the other day, and that’s it.’
Asked whether Sterling was likely to start on Wednesday night for the second leg of Arsenal’s last-16 tie with PSV, Arteta added: ‘I will decide that tomorrow with him and with the rest of them.’
Arsenal have already all but secured their place in the quarter-finals of the Champions League with an emphatic 7-1 win over PSV in the first leg.
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