Sterling joins fellow temporary arrival Neto, Mikel Merino, Riccardo Calafiori, David Raya and Tommy Setford as new faces in the door at Emirates Stadium. Emile Smith Rowe, Aaron Ramsdale, Eddie Nketiah and Reiss Nelson all sealed exits with the quartet nearly joined by Leandro Trossard.
Saudi Pro League side Al Ittihad launched a desperate late offer to sign the Belgium international over the weekend ahead of Monday’s Saudi deadline but it was firmly rejected by Arsenal. Though a departure for Trossard would’ve helped Sterling’s minutes, the Gunners’ decision to turn down the offer showcases that he will be set for prominent game time anyway.
As Nelson has departed on loan, and Nketiah moved on permanently, Arsenal would be back in the exact same worrying position had they parted ways with Trossard and brutally exposed their significant lack of depth in attack. It is therefore clear that Sterling will be given plenty of game time to make an impact with it entirely possible Arsenal make a move to bring him back on a permanent basis.
Though he has struggled for Chelsea in recent seasons, Arsenal sporting director Edu explained the club’s reasons for signing Sterling.
“To be fair we never planned really to sign him when we started the transfer window, just to be very transparent, for different reasons,” he told the club’s official website.
“But we always say to everyone that you have to be prepared for every single scenario. So when that opportunity came to me, and I checked the squad, I checked how he plays, and spoke to Mikel of course. I spoke to Tim [Lewis], our vice-chairman, to check if everyone is comfortable for the step we are going to take, and it makes a lot of sense.
“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. He has experience, he understands more than anyone the league, he’s played in the Champions League many times.
“He won the Premier League a few times as well, so I think he can add a lot to our squad and I feel really happy to see someone like him in our squad.”
