Arsenal signed Raheem Sterling on a year-long loan from Chelsea on Deadline Day with Mikel Arteta reuniting with another ex-Manchester City player as he attempts to pip his former employers to the Premier League.
The forward commences training with the Gunners today (2nd September) after not being included in England’s squad for the upcoming international fixtures over the next fortnight.
Raheem Sterling had his first training session at #AFC today. A look at the players he and Mikel Arteta will be working with over the international break at London Colneyhttps://t.co/IiCTS8PTHX
— Kaya Kaynak (@kayakaynak97) September 2, 2024
It will be for the first time this season that Sterling will be training with first team members anywhere as he was frozen out of Chelsea’s setup by Enzo Maresca. The Italian excluded him from his plans for the season and pushed him out of Stamford Bridge with Arsenal providing him a getaway at the last hour of the transfer window.
Raheem Sterling due to start training with Arsenal
It remains to be seen whether Raheem SterlingRaheem Sterling will commence training with the players available to Arteta right from the word go or whether he will do fitness drills individually first to gain momentum prior to getting work underway with the rest of his new teammates.
With that said, the international break comes at the perfect time for Arsenal and Sterling as they will have time to build a chemistry together in the next couple of weeks before they can get the ball rolling.
Indeed, the 29-year-old’s debut for the north Londoners could be in the derby against Tottenham Hotspur away from home and if he were to contribute in a winning cause on enemy territory, it would instantly make him a fan favourite among the Arsenal faithful.
Can Raheem Sterling rekindle his magic at Arsenal?
Sterling’s arrival is also exciting news for Mikel Arteta as he had been meaning to bring in a back-up for Bukayo Saka on the right flank. In his newly acquired superstar, the manager has a player who he knows very well from his Manchester City tenure as well as a seasoned name from the Premier League itself.
There has been no natural back-up for Saka at Arsenal for as long as recent memory suggests with the likes of Kai Havertz and Martin Odegaard adapting to roles on the right flank if needed.
Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard have largely been limited to the left due to a lack of dynamism they’ve shown on the other side of the pitch.
Sterling will be particularly keen to make a good impression at Arsenal after the way he was treated by Maresca at Chelsea. There are exciting times ahead not just for the players, but also for the Gunners who may be a step closer to their big dream following another world-class capture in the transfer market.
