Raheem Sterling has made a move to Arsenal on deadline day. Joining the North Londoners for a season long loan, the 4-time champion would look to revive his career, and in the process, try to bring Premier League glory to Arsenal. Sterling’s poor form at Chelsea was based on a lot of irregularities and inconsistencies at the club but, can playing under a better system allow the 29-year-old to find his long-lost form? or will it be his last stint at one of the big 6 clubs?
Raheem Sterling’s career so far
Raheem Sterling made his debut for Liverpool in 2012 when he was just 17, after forming a deadly front three with Sturridge and Suarez he went on to join Manchester City. He was great at Liverpool and was seen as a young and developing future star. Moving to Manchester City in 2015, he started off slowly but after a couple of mediocre seasons, he popped off.
Scoring 23 goals and providing 13 assist in the 17/18 season and never looking back again. He became one of the cornerstones of the squad, he was one of Pep’s favorite players. After winning the premier league 4 times with City and Pep, Raheem Sterling left when new arrivals at the club meant fewer guaranteed minutes for him.
He went to join Chelsea in 2022, but it did not pan out well for either Chelsea or him. A young and inexperienced squad with no clear sense of who is in charge. A club with no proper direction. Raheem Sterling played under many different managers (6), with so much uncertainty around the club his production dipped. The club struggled, Sterling had a few good performances here and there, but it was a mess. Maresca took over as coach and decided to move on from Sterling, letting him know that he would not be getting any minutes at the club this season. Two seasons after leaving Man City, people have started to write Raheem Sterling off. There are only 15 players who have more goal involvements than him in the history of the Premier League. A player of his pedigree, at 29, on the back of two average seasons at Chelsea cannot be written off.
Sterling and Arsenal, The perfect Marriage
Raheem Sterling can play anywhere in the front three, his ability to run past defenders, find the right pass inside the box and cut inside from the wing make him another target for Odegaard to find. He can play back up to Saka but make no mistake he will start many games for Arsenal. The fight for minutes between Sterling, Trossard and Martinelli is surely going to heat up soon. For Arsenal, having an attacker, two midfielders and a defender amongst the 30-man Ballon D’or shortlist is a testament to the squad’s quality. The already star-studded squad with new additions like Merino, Calafiori and Sterling joining the bunch, look more dangerous than ever. They have transformed from an inexperienced side with no clear system, to one of the best in the world under Arteta. Arsenal came close to winning the league twice. With issues related to squad depth and veteran leadership checked out, their challenge for the title looks much stronger
What Raheem Sterling brings to this young squad is championship pedigree, his experience from his time at Manchester City. He has played big matches and knows how to get over the hurdle. He knows that the race to the Premier league trophy is a marathon and not a sprint. Before Raheem Sterling goes back to Chelsea, he needs to have a good season with Arsenal. With the fact that, This might end up being his last chance at a top club in England if he doesn’t perform well. Imagining him play for a mid table team at 30 would be heartbreaking for people who have watched him since his Liverpool days.
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