Arsenal had a very busy summer transfer deadline day.
The Gunners had things to do with respect to both incomings and outgoings, and there was a fair bit of movement at the Emirates on the last day of the window.
Aaron Ramsdale and Eddie Nketiah were moved on to Southampton and Crystal Palace respectively, while Edu Gaspar agreed deals to bring in Neto and Raheem Sterling on season-long loans.
If Arsenal really wanted to, they could’ve signed a player from Paris Saint-Germain too, but Mikel Arteta and co decided against it.
PSG offered Marco Asensio to Arsenal on transfer deadline day
Arsenal, as we all know, were on the market for a new attacker on deadline day.
The Gunners went into the window in June in search of a new striker, and they really wanted to sign RB Leipzig star Benjamin Sesko, but he rejected Arsenal.
From that point, Arteta decided he’d rather sign a versatile winger instead of an out-and-out centre-forward, and the focus was on that.
The Sterling links emerged on the evening before deadline day, but that deal looked unlikely for the next 24 hours. There was very little optimism.
GiveMeSport now claim that PSG offered Marco Asensio to both Arsenal and Manchester United in a ‘last-gasp deal’ and were confident that one of the two English clubs would make a move on deadline day.
However, both Arteta and Erik ten Hag turned down that opportunity, with the former opting for Sterling.
Asensio, who has been in Paris for a little over a year now, will stay there at least until the January transfer window of 2025.
Raheem Sterling vs Marco Asensio stats in 2023/24
Asensio is a ‘world-class‘ player – there’s no debate there. You don’t play 286 times for a club like Real Madrid if you’re a bad player.
Arsenal’s choice on the final day of the transfer window seems to have been between Asensio and Sterling, and Arteta went with the latter.
Was the Arsenal boss right to pick the Englishman? Let’s see what the stats say.
In the 2023/24 season, Asensio played 31 games for PSG, who are the best team in France by a mile, and directly contributed to 12 goals – he scored five times and provided seven assists.
Sterling, on the other hand, played for a shockingly bad Chelsea side and directly contributed to 18 goals – 10 goals and eight assists.
Yes, Sterling did play more games, but the fact that his numbers are much better while playing for a poor side proves that he is the better fit for Arsenal.
We think Arteta was right to choose Sterling over Asensio on deadline day.
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