Sport
Many believed Arsenal would move for a new centre forward in the summer transfer window. Victor Osimhen, Ivan Toney and others were linked with the Gunners who certainly lack a number nine on the level of Erling Haaland. If Arsenal are to beat Manchester City in the Premier League title race, it’s widely argued they need a comparable striker.
Ultimately, though, Arsenal strengthened another area of their attack by signing Raheem Sterling on loan from Chelsea on deadline day. This was a transfer that came out of nowhere as Sterling was exiled from the squad at Stamford Bridge, but the Gunners moved quickly to add another option to their forward line.
Sterling could be the solution to Arsenal’s growing left wing problem. While Gabriel Martinelli was once locked in as Mikel Arteta’s first-choice on that side of the pitch, the Brazilian has struggled for form and fitness over the last 12 months. He has failed to register a goal contribution in three league matches this season.
Leandro Trossard continues to make an impact off the bench in games – see the away win over Aston Villa – but the Belgian often fails to have an influence from the start. Trossard is most effective when he can be introduced against a tiring opponent when his movement and directness offers something different.
It’s therefore reasonable to assume Sterling will get his opportunity in the Arsenal first team before too long. He is, after all, a player accustomed to challenging for honours at the top of English and European football and still has plenty left to offer. It could be argued that Sterling is in his peak years. Arsenal might have signed him at the right time.
“We never planned to sign him when we started the transfer window, just to be very transparent,” said Arsenal sporting director Edu when asked about the signing of Sterling. “But we always say to everyone that you have to be prepared for every single scenario. It makes a lot of sense to have someone like him because I’m pretty sure he is going to add a lot in the squad.”
Arteta and Edu have placed an emphasis on building out Arsenal’s squad in almost every position in recent times. The Gunners, for example, signed Riccardo Calafiori when they already have Jakub Kiwior, Oleksandar Zinchenko and Jurrien Timber to play on the left side of the defence. Their capture of Mikel Merino was another designed to add depth.
The signing of Sterling could do much more than that, though. Even last season as Chelsea struggled through a difficult Premier League camping, the winger still managed to register 12 goal contributions. Imagine what Sterling could achieve in a team with a coherent structure and set of footballing principles.
“We have to try to find quick wins to get him up to speed as quickly as possible and for him to understand what we are looking for from him in the dynamics of the team,” said Arteta about Sterling after Saturday’s home draw against Brighton. “We will use that time to do that and get him involved as soon as possible.”
Under Arteta, Arsenal have consistently been one of the youngest teams in the Premier League over the last three seasons. The Spaniard has done a lot to harness young players like Saka, William Saliba, Martin Odegaard and others as the Gunners have grown into one of the division’s most complete teams.
With Sterling signed from Chelsea, though, the indication is that Arsenal want to win now. They are no longer planning to lift silverware in the future – they envisage getting their hands on the sport’s biggest prizes sooner rather than later. Chelsea might not have wanted Sterling, but their North London rivals could use him to reach their goals.
