Rio Ferdinand delivers his verdict on Raheem Sterling’s performance for Arsenal vs Tottenham

Rio Ferdinand has shared his insightful verdict on Raheem Sterling’s performance in the highly anticipated Arsenal vs Tottenham match. As a former football star and expert analyst, Ferdinand praised Sterling for his dynamic play, highlighting his pace, creativity, and ability to make a difference on the field. While acknowledging the intense rivalry between the two North London clubs, Ferdinand commended Sterling’s contribution to Arsenal’s attack, noting his impressive positioning and impact during key moments. Fans and pundits alike are keen to hear his expert opinions as Sterling continues to prove himself in one of the Premier League’s most high-profile fixtures.

Raheem Sterling was handed a rare start in Arsenal’s North London Derby win against Tottenham Hotspur on Wednesday evening.

For a while, Arsenal’s confidence seemed to have taken a hit, an understandable response given defeats last week.

However, Gabriel Magalhaes then well and truly settled things down, proving why Arsenal are more than happy to be called ‘Set Piece FC’.

Thereafter, Leandro Trossard took advantage of Antonin Kinsky’s erratic goalkeeping, a North London Derby debutant who seemed slightly overwhelmed by the occasion.

Arsenal closed the gap to Premier League leaders Liverpool to just four points with a frantic 2-1 win at home to Tottenham in the north London derby. Mikel Arteta's side were in dire need of a result to reignite their season following disappointing cup losses against Newcastle and Manchester United last week, and duly delivered with a comeback victory on home soil.

The hosts had all of the possession early doors but were nearly undone on the counter when Djed Spence zipped away down the left and delivered a teasing cross into Dominic Solanke, only for Gabriel to make a superb recovery challenge and deny a certain goal. From the ensuing corner, David Raya stood tall to keep out Dejan Kulusevski from point-blank range.

And with their next attack, Tottenham took a shock lead. Gabriel's header from another corner fell kindly to Son Heung-min on the edge of the box, and his volley deflected off the toe of William Saliba before squeezing through the legs of Thomas Partey and beyond a helpless Raya.

Just before the break, though, Arsenal turned the game around. An in-swinging corner from Declan Rice sailed over to Gabriel at the back-post, and his header went in off Dominic Solanke for the equaliser. Spurs were furious with the decision to award the Gunners a corner after the ball appeared to take a nick off Leandro Trossard rather than Pedro Porro as the referee had believed.

Minutes later, Arteta's side went in front. Yves Bissouma was dispossessed in midfield too easily, with Martin Odegaard switching play left to Trossard, and his powerful shot bounced over the weak wrists of Antonin Kinsky.

The Gunners sought to extend that lead in the second half, and went mightily close when Kai Havertz headed narrowly wide from an Odegaard corner soon after the restart. A mix-up at the back for Spurs then afforded Havertz and Raheem Sterling the opportunity to sweep home from inside the 18-yard box, but neither were able to take up that invitation.

Rice and Gabriel Martinelli both went close as Arsenal continued to dictate the game, while Odegaard missed the chance to ice the game from well inside the Spurs box in the closing stages.

Arsenal managed to keep Tottenham at a safe enough distance for five minutes of added time, in spite of Porro rattling the post from a vicious cross, and held on to secure three precious points and climb back above Nottingham Forest into second, while Spurs could still end this round of fixtures as low as 14th.