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Liverpool and Arsenal transfer: Keep Raheem Sterling? Sell Theo Walcott?

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Raheem Sterling and Theo Walcott are two Premier League stars who could well be on the move this summer – but would Liverpool and Arsenal be right to let them go?

Sterling’s future has been thrown into doubt by a contract dispute, while Walcott has found himself on the periphery at Arsenal following injury problems.

But what sort of impact have the pair had for their respective clubs this season? With the help of WhoScored.com, we check the stats to compare how Liverpool and Arsenal performed with and without the pair…

Raheem Sterling

Liverpool's Raheem Sterling celebrates after scoring again Newcastle
Image: Raheem Sterling: Dropped for Liverpool's final Premier League match against Stoke

The transfer saga which promises to be one of the most public of the window. Sterling was dropped for the final game of the season at Stoke - with the less said about that game the better as far as Liverpool are concerned – and if that match was a sign of things to come in terms of life without the youngster then things are looking bleak for Brendan Rodgers’ side.

That said, the 20-year old played his part – or lack thereof - in a dip in form that started weeks before Liverpool's humiliation at the Britannia, having seen his own form plummet once speculation regarding his interest to move elsewhere came to the surface. Indeed, in his final 10 league appearances of the season Sterling had a hand in just one goal, netting the opener as the Reds dispatched a Newcastle side in freefall.

Given Sterling’s major role in the side this season and indeed last - which should be considered with regards to any recent drop off in performance levels - it's hard to really judge what sort of an impact his departure would have. However, given that he was Liverpool's second-highest rated player according to WhoScored.com last season (7.27), and this term ranked second at the club for goals (seven), assists (seven) and dribbles per game (2.9), his value to this current side is abundantly clear.

Theo Walcott

Arsenal's Theo Walcott celebrates scoring his side's third goal
Image: Theo Walcott: Averages a shot every 19 minutes for Arsenal

If Sunday's rout over West Brom does prove to be Theo Walcott's final league appearance in an Arsenal shirt, boy did he sign off in style. A first half hat-trick saw the England international deservedly garner the WhoScored.com man-of-the-match award with a rating of 9.96 and was evidence enough to any potential suitors that the 26-year old is still very much capable of providing a goal threat in England’s top-flight.

With five league goals from just 442 minutes of action in yet another injury-ravaged campaign the forward scored more frequently (every 88.4 minutes) than any other player to find the net as many times. With Olivier Giroud's form often patchy, Walcott offers a competitive and completely different alternative up front for the Gunners, but convincing the former Southampton graduate of being very much a rotation player will be Arsene Wenger's real problem.

Walcott is a confident individual after all, averaging a shot more often than any other current Arsenal player this season (every 19 minutes), and he'll certainly feel that he has something to offer, if not at Arsenal then elsewhere. Given the Gunners have won all four of the league matches Walcott has started this season, scoring 14 goals in the process, the stats suggest Arsenal should do what they can to keep hold of him.

All statistics courtesy of WhoScored.com, where you can find more stats, including live in-game data and unique player and team ratings. You can follow all the scores, statistics, live player and team ratings with their new free-to-download app

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