On the last day of the 2024 summer transfer window, Raheem Sterling received a final call from Edu Gaspar - Arsenal's former sporting director. Previously, the former Man City player had heard about potential interest from The Gunners.
Edu and Mikel Arteta had discussions about Sterling with Arsenal's leadership. Despite concerns about the cost, the English striker's talent and experience are still highly appreciated. However, it was only in the final hours that Arsenal and Chelsea officially entered negotiations.
At Chelsea, Sterling's situation is almost beyond saving. In contrast to his time at Man City, where he was regularly discussed for leaving the team, Sterling had to face a rapid change in the Blues' plans in the final weeks of the transfer window.
Although the 29-year-old star had an impressive performance in Chelsea's US tour, captain Enzo Maresca still announced that Sterling was not in the plan for the new season.
Raheem Sterling has confirmed that he does not want to leave Europe to play in the Saudi Pro League. At the age of 29, he is confident that he has many things to contribute. Although Man United have considered a trade-off between Sterling and Jadon Sancho, the striker born in 1994 is concerned about instability at Old Trafford.
Meanwhile, Arsenal is a perfect choice with a unified board, a clear style of play and a united team. In addition, Sterling knows some of the Gunners' players such as Zinchenko and Jesus from his time at Man City, as well as Saka and Rice in the England team.
Another important factor that made Sterling choose Arsenal was his relationship with Mikel Arteta. When the Spanish strategist was Pep Guardiola's assistant, he spent a lot of time working separately with Sterling, helping him achieve the most rewarding scoring period of his career. Chelsea have agreed to loan Sterling to Arsenal with a reasonable salary contribution.
Sterling did not start this season very smoothly, playing only 123 minutes in the Premier League. In recent matches, partly due to the influence of red cards, Mikel Arteta had to adjust the squad, even taking Sterling off the field in some cases to strengthen the defense.
Arteta explained that the decision to take Sterling off the pitch was tactical and did not reflect his individual ability. That shows that the English star is still in Arsenal's plans for this season.
Despite not having many opportunities, Sterling still has a positive attitude. When faced with the prospect of not playing at Chelsea, moving to Arsenal is a clear step forward. In the conversation before joining, Arteta was straightforward with Sterling that he needed to make an effort to win his position. The 29-year-old striker responded with determination to give his all and always be ready when the team needed him.
With the desire to return to the England team, Sterling understands that playing regularly is important. This becomes even more urgent as his position is facing great competition in the "Three Lions" squad.
An interesting coincidence is that Thomas Tuchel, who brought Sterling to Chelsea in 2022, has become the head coach of the England team. The presence of the German coach may bring new hope to Sterling.
For now, Sterling is trying to show himself at Arsenal and is ready for any role that the team requires. For a player of Sterling's class and experience, waiting patiently for the right time is not difficult. The English striker knows that the season is still long and turning points can still come.
