Should Arsenal sign Raheem Sterling?

Should Arsenal sign Raheem Sterling?

By Matt Wright
With the January transfer window out of the way, speculation will soon be building as to who Arsenal will be bringing in during the summer, with the squad unquestionably needing strengthening.
Manager Mikel Arteta has gone for quality over quantity for the remainder of this season and given that's just 17 Premier League fixtures, with a schedule that's none too hectic, that's understandable.
Bringing in extra quality in the middle of the campaign was always going to be tough, and with the Gunners mounting a top-four challenge for the first time in a few years, the desperation of previous seasons wasn't as evident.
Nonetheless, it is something that has to be addressed from May onwards and one of the more exciting players to have been linked with the club is Manchester City and England forward Raheem Sterling.
 

Reports of Raheem


It was reported during the autumn that Sterling would be interested in a move to the Emirates Stadium due to his frustration over a lack of playing time at City.
Sterling's contract with Pep Guardiola's side expires at the end of next season, meaning the 27-year-old may be available for a knock-down price in the summer.
His age means he still has some good years left in him, and he would undoubtedly be a good player for young attackers such as Eddie Nketiah, Gabriel Martinelli and Charlie Patino to learn from.
Sterling's form has thankfully recovered since the end of last season when many questioned whether he even merited a place in England's starting line-up for Euro 2020.
It's fair to say he answered those critics in style, as he put in a string of superb performances in helping England to their first major final since 1966.
Sterling has since surpassed 100 goals in the Premier League, a superb achievement for someone of his age and a player who is not a centre-forward.
He has never failed to reach double-figures in his six previous seasons with City, so there's no question he would bring goals should he come to Arsenal (most welcome after the last few weeks).

Challenging again


Going after him would also be a great sign that the club is serious about becoming proper challengers in the Premier League again, following too many seasons of being also-rans.
However, it is worth asking: would Raheem Sterling want to sign for Arsenal?
The reality is he'd be leaving a Manchester City squad that has become a winning machine to join one that is in an earlier stage of its development.
His familiarity with Arteta, from his time assisting Guardiola before his appointment with the Gunners, may be a factor that might entice him to move closer to his family in London.
As might the likelihood that he'd have more of a guaranteed role in Arsenal's starting line-up – how exciting it would be to see him linking up with Bukayo Saka for club and country.
The possibility of bringing in Sterling is something that most Arsenal fans would be very excited by, although we perhaps shouldn't be making plans to get his name printed on shirts just yet.

Photo Credit: Getty Images

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