Raheem Sterling transfer slammed by Thierry Henry as Arsenal icon questions Mikel Arteta, ‘everyone has been screaming’

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Even those who love Arsenal the most are unsure about why the North Londoners recruited Raheem Sterling last summer.

In an anti-climactic deadline day swoop, Arsenal secured the loan signings of Sterling and Neto.

Arsene Wenger was cautious of Sterling long before his move to the Emirates, and unsurprisingly, the Arsenal legend has proved to be right. 

Wenger isn’t the only club icon to have shared his verdict on the Englishman, as Thierry Henry revealed his opinion following the conclusion of the 2024/25 campaign. 

• READ MORE: Arsenal legend Thierry Henry’s life outside of football from his marriage to net worth and more

Thierry Henry shares verdict on Raheem Sterling transfer

Being a player with 123 Premier League goals to his name, disrespect for Sterling is never warranted, but it has to be said that Mikel Arteta’s decision was rather bizarre. 

Given the point that the ex-England international was at in his career at the time of Arsenal’s interest, acquiring the 30-year-old on loan was a terrible choice.

Speaking to Gary Neville, Jill Scott, Roy Keane, Ian Wright and Jamie Carragher in an interview, Henry was quizzed on Arteta’s transfer mistake last summer.

Henry isn’t afraid to speak his mind when it comes to Arsenal, and did the same when talking about Sterling’s move on The Overlap.

“When you look at the injuries and you look at the players that came, he brought players,” Henry said of Arteta.

“He got Sterling when everyone wanted a nine. He had time to get a nine. I’m not the coach, I don’t know how the discussions went, but everyone has been screaming for a nine.”

Henry’s concerns were valid and will be echoed by many, as when reviewing the 2024/25 campaign, Arsenal were desperately lacking a striker.

Even before the season began, a striker was considered to be the focal point of Arsenal’s title chances, and lo and behold, a goalscorer wasn’t signed, and the Gunners missed out again. 

Sterling’s loan was a disaster

Now that the season has concluded, it’s fair to place Sterling’s move in the category of Arteta’s worst-ever signings at Arsenal.

The 30-year-old ended the campaign with no Premier League goals to his name, scoring only once in 28 appearances, finding the net in the Carabao Cup. 

Admittedly, it was the only competition in which Arteta showed real trust in Sterling, as the former Manchester City star racked up only 509 minutes in the Premier League.

Former sporting director Edu Gaspar worked with Arteta to get the deal done, a transfer that will go down in history for the wrong reasons.

Henry’s opinion of Sterling’s season at Arsenal will be shared by many, as it’s yet to be determined what the future holds for the loanee.