Why Sterling reuniting with Arteta is a perfect fit

Adrian Clarke looks at the qualities Raheem Sterling can bring to Arsenal following his loan move from Chelsea.

Player analysis - Raheem Sterling (Arsenal)

Sterling’s last-minute loan move to Arsenal ticks a lot of boxes, for both club and player.

The Gunners had been looking to recruit a quality right-sided forward for some time who could cover for Bukayo Saka without unduly weakening their starting XI.

Also, a little light on striker options, the mobile Sterling also offers them an alternative to Kai Havertz or Gabriel Jesus up front, and he can compete for a left-sided berth with Gabriel Martinelli and Leandro Trossard too.

Mikel Arteta will be thrilled to have him as a fresh option.

Sterling's first Arsenal training session

Sterling, still only 29, will also feel reinvigorated by his move across London.

Out of favour at Chelsea, Sterling has joined at a title-challenging side who play the type of football he thrives in most, and it will feel like he has hit the jackpot.

Mikel’s man

Between the summer of 2016 and mid-December 2019, Arteta was Pep Guardiola’s assistant at Manchester City, and it coincided with one of the most productive periods of Sterling’s career.

Markedly improving his finishing, the England international scored 51 times in 116 Premier League appearances during that spell working with the Spaniard.

Across the 2017/18 and 2018/19 campaigns Sterling also produced double figure assist and goal tallies for the only time.

As indicated below, Sterling’s strike rate and clinical finishing were particularly impressive when Arteta was a coach at the Etihad Stadium.

It is also worth noting that the winger’s conversion rate percentage has not dipped below 20 per cent in the last seven seasons.

Sterling's attacking stats last eight seasons  

*16 appearances, 9 goals scored, before Arteta left for Arsenal on 20 December

Where will he play?

Sterling offers versatility across Arsenal’s forward line, but when Arteta was part of City's coaching staff, he played on the right wing more often. Indeed he was used most frequently, some 44 per cent of the time, as a right-winger, compared with 36 per cent on the left wing.

In the last four-and-a-half seasons, at Man City and then Chelsea, Sterling has been preferred as a left-sided option on a more regular basis. He has been used as a left-winger 51 per cent of the time, most commonly in a 4-3-3 formation (27 per cent).

His game time on the right flank has reduced from 50 per cent to 28 per cent, but that could change this season at Arsenal.

It would also be no surprise to see Arteta use Sterling down the middle, as a "false nine" striker.

His pace and astute movement are well suited to Arsenal's style of play.

Where is he at his most creative?

In terms of creating chances across the previous three seasons it is fascinating to observe how often he has laid on opportunities for others when performing on the right, as shown below.

Sterling may have started on the left more frequently during this period, but it is on the opposite flank where he tends to lay on significantly more key passes.

This bodes well for the Arsenal loanee when he is asked to stand in for Saka in that key position.

Adaptable finishing

One crucial difference between Sterling and Saka is their strongest foot, but it would be wrong to presume the former will not be able to replicate the latter's brilliance when cutting in from the right.

Sterling showcased this against Luton Town last season, when scoring a brace for Chelsea in a 3-0 win.

His brilliant solo dribble and curling shot was reminiscent of Saka.

In that encounter we also saw another side of Sterling’s make-up, intelligently sliding inside to join as a second striker when a full-back offered width down his side of the pitch.

Sterling is excellent at finding pockets of space inside the centre of the box, with Arteta likely to ask his new charge to replicate this type of move on occasion too.

Sterling’s two-footedness is an under-rated quality, as it allows him to duck inside or outside his markers before taking a shot.

When you dribble as fast as he does, full-backs are unbalanced as a matter of course.

Over a quarter of his career strikes in the Premier League have actually come via his left boot.

Sterling's range of PL goals

Sterling’s terrific, angled strike at Burnley last season, firing a ferocious drive into the far corner from the left side of the box, was a reminder of how clinical he can be off either side.

Sterling goal v Burnley

The ideal fit

In two seasons at Chelsea, Sterling played under six different managers, so it is unfair to judge his performance levels too harshly.

That constant upheaval did not help him feel settled or confident, but even so, he still delivered 21 direct goal involvements for the Blues.

His positional adaptability will be hugely important for Arteta, along with his speed, dribbling prowess, calm finishing and bright movement.

Sterling’s peak form may be behind him now but playing for a side as stylistically similar to Man City, is likely to make him feel at home.

In a busy campaign where Arsenal hope to challenge on all fronts, he is sure to be a key player.

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