Reunion with Arteta: Arsenal loans Sterling

Leaving after being dropped from Chelsea: Raheem Sterling.
IMAGO/ActionPlus

After being dropped by Chelsea, Raheem Sterling was threatened with six months without playing if he really wanted to stay at home. But on deadline day, an interesting option opened up for the 29-year-old: runners-up Arsenal showed interest and were ultimately awarded the contract. As the Gunners only announced after the end of the transfer window, which had already been announced by the league, the 82-time England international will play for them on loan until the end of the season.

At the Blues, Sterling was recently one of the “15 to 20 professionals” who were excluded from team training with the new coach Enzo Maresca – the club even gave his number 7 shirt to new signing Pedro Neto. Chelsea wanted to use such means to pressure the winger, who is arguably one of the top players in the entire Premier League, into a transfer – at least temporarily, the plan worked.

Sterling experienced six coaches in two years

In 2022, the West Londoners paid 55 million euros to ManCity for Thomas Tuchel’s then dream player. But the collaboration with the German coach was short-lived. Less than two months after the transfer, the club parted ways with Tuchel – it was the beginning of turbulent years under the new leadership of Todd Boehly. In total, Sterling experienced six different coaches in his two years (68 games, 17 goals), and he played under every coach except Maresca.

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The Englishman receives more appreciation at Arsenal than from the Italian – the current CFC coach spoke publicly about not liking Sterling’s style of play. Mikel Arteta is considered a fan of the offensive player. The two are said to have had a close relationship since their time together at Manchester City. “My time with him was extraordinary. We built a really strong relationship,” Arteta revealed before the signing.

Following the signings of Riccardo Calafiori, Mikel Merino, Neto and the permanent transfer of previously loaned David Raya, Sterling is the Gunners’ fifth and final signing this summer.