During his time working with Raheem Sterling at Man City, Mikel Arteta played a key role in turning the talented but inconsistent winger into a real threat. Now, with Arsenal agreeing a loan deal for the England star from Chelsea, Arteta will have the chance to help his former player find his form.
The Gunners captain always has kind words when mentioning Sterling. Arteta also appreciates the time when the two worked together. This not only reflects the strong relationship between the two teachers and students, but also the belief that this reunion can help Sterling revive his form. Besides, Arsenal and Arteta also have new factors in the Premier League title race.
When talking about Arteta's impact at Man City, many people can easily overlook his role when compared to Pep Guardiola. However, Sterling himself has admitted that Arteta has had a huge influence on the training ground and dressing room at the Etihad. The Arsenal coach always sets high standards for his players.
Since leaving Liverpool, Sterling has shown remarkable development, becoming a mainstay at Man City and England. Notably, the 29-year-old star has not only taken on the role of harassing the opposition defence, but has also become a genuine goalscorer. A key factor in this improvement has been his ability to position himself more intelligently and move into the opposition penalty area more often.
Sterling's improved movement has not only made him a bigger threat in the penalty area. It has also helped the 1994-born star receive the ball and shoot from better positions. In the 2019-2020 season, he showed impressive form with an expected goals (npxG) of 0.6 goals/game. In addition, Sterling has scored 55 goals in the Premier League in 3 consecutive seasons (2017-2020).
However, when he moved to Chelsea, Sterling had to adapt to a completely different environment. Here, the 29-year-old striker had to work under 4 different coaches within 2 years. This had a significant impact on his performance.
Sterling has reverted to a more dribbling style of play, with his dribble success rate dropping to a career low. He still creates chances with his intelligent movement but is no longer getting the support he had at Man City.
Although Sterling has struggled at Chelsea, he is still a player with great potential. With Arsenal 's tactical system , where cross-field opportunities were the most in the Premier League last season, Sterling can take advantage of this to develop his goalscoring ability.
Sterling's move to Arsenal also makes sense from a squad-building perspective. The presence of the England star and Gabriel Martinelli on the left wing would allow Leandro Trossard to play in his preferred position as a centre-forward. Sterling's versatility could also make him an ideal replacement for Bukayo Saka when needed.
