"Raheem Sterling was a panic buy" - Pundit insists Arsenal wanted to sign Euro 2024 winner instead of on-loan Chelsea star
Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit claims that Raheem Sterling was a panic buy for the Gunners. The Frenchman added that manager Mikel Arteta had his eyes set on another winger but had to settle for the former Liverpool and Manchester City forward.
Raheem Sterling was deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea by new manager Enzo Maresca and was asked to find a new club for himself. He moved to Arsenal on deadline day, sealing a loan move to reunite with Arteta, who worked with him at Manchester City.
Since moving across town, Sterling has failed to impress. In eight appearances across competitions, he has scored just one goal and one assist. They came in his first Arsenal start - a 5-1 win over Bolton Wanderers in the Carabao Cup.
Petit, who also played for both Chelsea and Arsenal during his career, told Instant Casino that Sterling wasn't Arteta's first-choice signing but a "panic buy".
"Raheem Sterling was a panic buy. For me, Mikel Arteta knows that he’s missing players, numbers in his squad, quality players in terms of rotation," claimed Petit (via Metro).
"He knows that, so at the end of the transfer market during the summer, he knew that he had no choice just to get Sterling because he didn’t want to put the big money on the table for other players.
Petit believes the Spaniard wanted his countryman and in-demand Athletic Bilbao forward Nico Williams as the attacking transfer in the summer.
"I know that he [Arteta] was dreaming about Nico Williams, but he will never come to the Premier League," the Frenchman said.
He predicted that the 22-year-old, who is a top target for clubs across Europe, will go to Barcelona.
"He will stay in Spain; he will go to Barcelona. Definitely," Petit said.
Despite interest from big clubs in the summer after his exploits in Spain's Euro-winning campaign, Nico Williams stayed at the Basque club.
"Sterling has been living a nightmare for years" - Former Chelsea and Arsenal midfielder Petit
In the interview with Instant Casino, Emmanuel Petit donned the analytical hat, suggesting why Sterling has failed to deliver for Arsenal. According to the 54-year-old pundit, the forward, who still has three years left on his contract with Chelsea, is a victim of his own success. He said:
"Sterling has been living a nightmare for years now. I think Sterling is probably one of the best examples of what life in the Premier League can do to a player that has tasted success after success after success.
He added that Sterling has a lack of hunger after the trophies he's won and the financial windfall he has made by playing for elite clubs.
"When you receive so much money for years and you win a lot of trophies, you’re not starving anymore. You lose your passion; you lose your priorities sometimes and you’re enjoying your life," Petit said.
"I wonder if Sterling was starting his career that he would probably play differently. It was like that during my time as well. It’s common for human beings."
Prior to his move to Chelsea, the on-loan Arsenal midfielder had won four Premier League titles at Manchester City during a seven-year spell at the club.