Former Newcastle United striker Alan Shearer has given his verdict on Arsenal’s decision to sign Raheem Sterling.
Raheem Sterling joined Arsenal on a season-long loan switch from Chelsea on Transfer Deadline Day.
With it having been made clear that he was no longer wanted at Stamford Bridge, Sterling required an exit route. The Gunners offered him a way out of West London at the 11th hour.
Mikel Arteta will be very familiar with the 29-year-old winger’s qualities, having worked closely with him in his time at Manchester City. The forward produced the best form of his career in that period.
Sterling has praised Arteta as a coach in the past, and will surely be looking forward to working with him again.
Meanwhile, Arteta is convinced he can help Sterling get back to his best, following a difficult two-season stint at Stamford Bridge. Overall, this is a move that seems to suit both Sterling and Arsenal, and that is certainly the view of Alan Shearer.
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Alan Shearer reacts to Arsenal signing Raheem Sterling
Shearer is convinced that the 82-cap England international can have an impact for the Gunners.
Speaking on the Stick to Football podcast, he said: “I think it’s a really good move for him. I think it’s important that he got out and played, it would’ve been horrible for him to sit there and rot in the sticks and maybe not even see first team football, never mind train with them.”
Highlighting what the winger will bring to Arteta’s side, he then added: “With his experience and his know-how, he could be valuable to Arsenal.”
Arteta will certainly be hoping that Sterling can contribute positively for his side this season. As a player he has the capacity to be prolific in the Premier League, he has proven that before, it is just a case of if he can rediscover that spark at the Emirates Stadium.
How Arsenal can get the best out of Raheem Sterling
Sterling is a player who thrives off service. He makes intelligent runs and interprets space in the final third brilliantly, but needs the ball delivered into him.
In order to flourish at Arsenal, he will need to quickly forge a relationship with the likes of Bukayo Saka, Martin Odegaard, and Kai Havertz, who have the quality to supply him with the kind of service he requires.
The Arsenal fans will also need to afford him some patience. The player may well be lacking in confidence at this time, and he is capable of missing chances in any case. Old footage of Pep Guardiola and Arteta discussing Sterling’s profligacy is evidence of that.
However, he will convert plenty of opportunities into goals too, if the balance of the team around him is right.
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