In a recent discussion on the “Stick to Football” podcast, former Manchester United defender Gary Neville offered insights into Arsenal’s acquisition of Raheem Sterling during the summer transfer window. Neville suggested that the decision to bring Sterling on loan from Chelsea might have been driven more by manager Mikel Arteta’s preferences than by the club’s overarching strategy.
Neville posited that Arteta viewed Sterling as a versatile asset capable of covering multiple attacking positions, which led to the club securing his services. However, Sterling’s limited impact since joining—registering only one goal in 21 appearances—has raised questions about the move’s efficacy. Neville speculated that this experience may have influenced Arsenal’s reluctance to pursue similar deals in the January transfer window, especially given the minimal utilization of Sterling despite the club’s investment.
Sterling’s transition to Arsenal has been challenging. After being sidelined at Chelsea under manager Enzo Maresca, he joined the Gunners on a season-long loan, unexpectedly taking the squad number 30 instead of the initially announced number 10. Despite his prior success under Arteta’s coaching at Manchester City, Sterling has struggled to find form at the Emirates. Arteta, however, has expressed confidence in Sterling’s potential impact, emphasizing the team’s reliance on him amid injuries to key players. The manager highlighted Sterling’s experience and the need for his contribution as Arsenal aims to close the gap on league leaders Liverpool.
As the season progresses, the effectiveness of Sterling’s loan spell remains a focal point for both fans and analysts, especially in light of Arsenal’s current injury challenges and their pursuit of the Premier League title.