By CJ Needham, AKA Deluded Gooner
In Jamaica, there is a Jamaican Patois word commonly used ‘Tallawah’. In short, this word is associated with words such as fearless, strong-willed and resilient. I believe this word is a perfect depiction of Sterling’s career to date because he has had to prove his worth as a football player.
Raheem Sterling has recently completed a deadline-day loan move to Arsenal. Depending on what kind of fan you are, you will either applaud this move as a masterstroke from Edu Gaspar (Arsenal’s Sporting Director) pulling a rabbit out of his hat on deadline day. Alternatively, you may perceive this move as a panic signing, as Gaspar admitted this deal wasn’t initially in the works.
Pessimism around Sterling’s Signing
In the last two seasons, Sterling has been with Chelsea. He has produced 19 goals and 12 assists in 81 games. This is not a terrible return! However, it’s not a game-changing inside forward many Arsenal fans would have hoped for. It doesn’t help that Arsenal wanted to sign Nico Williams, a breakout star during the summer European Championships. In life, they say leopards do not change their spots, and at 21 years old, one does wonder if Sterling will be able to make massive improvements in his game.
Arsenal desperately searched for an addition to the squad in the very last moments of the window, which created doubt as to whether Arsenal were convinced about his signing. This is not to say Sterling is a bad footballer, but why was Sterling not an initial consideration for the team?
Sterling wants to make an impact at Arsenal, as I don’t think he’s on loan to sit on the bench. Although, as an Arsenal fan, it makes me wonder the following:
‘Will he be picked to start ahead of Martinelli or Trossard?’
‘Is he a ceiling raiser?’
‘Does he do more than simply raise the team’s floor?’
We must remember that he is on loan to Arsenal and not permanently with Arsenal. What if he returns to the form we were used to seeing during his Manchester City days? Would Arsenal essentially be doing the following:
If the items mentioned above do happen, is it likely that Chelsea will sell him next summer? Therefore, are we preparing Sterling for greatness in the interim time he is with us so that Chelsea can benefit?
Optimism about His Signing
Say what you want about Sterling, but you don’t win four Premier League titles, become one of the most used players under Pep Guardiola as a manager, and gain 82 England caps for being a bad footballer? If Sterling at 29 years of age, can be considered ‘finished’ – there is not much hope for anyone. It’s fair to say Sterling has suffered as a part of a wider collective (e.g. Mudryk, Nkunku and Felix) at Chelsea. It’s fair to say Sterling and others are not excelling at the moment. Therefore, should we cut Sterling some slack?
Sterling has been playing at the highest level since 17 years of age. He can play and thrive in all attacking positions. He has worked with Mikel Arteta previously; he has enjoyed some of his most prolific goal-scoring seasons. Also, Sterling is a proven winner, and adds an extra body to Arsenal’s attacking options. What is there not to like? Unlike Chelsea, Arsenal has a clear tactical identity, creating an environment where Sterling can thrive.
The media has relentlessly ridiculed Sterling. Chelsea’s new manager, Enzo Maresca, exiled him, and he lost his England place. Sterling has arrived at one of the biggest Premier League clubs (Arsenal) with the fire and desire to prove doubters wrong. At 29, he still has plenty to offer at the highest level.
Sterling, on paper, is a cost-effective and low-risk loan for Arsenal, which allows the team to have stronger depth in the attacking ranks. This could work in Arsenal’s favour as it gives Arsenal more time (perhaps another 6-12 months) to scout the market for a longer-term option. It’s clear that Arsenal have their sights on winning the league, so surely you cannot go wrong with recruiting a player who has experience in this regard? Only time will tell if this signing will be a success or failure. Many know Sterling has a point to prove. Sterling has worked well with several former teammates for club & country. Sterling knows that, whilst under Arteta, he can be primed to be a great player again. All you have to do is speak to Kai Havertz!
Source: The Athletic
Source: The Mirror Newspaper
Conclusion
Personally, Sterling, being a Londoner with Jamaican heritage, resonates with me. I can relate to him (beyond the obvious); he is a player who I believe a lot of people support because of how the media have portrayed him in the media. He has been dragged through the mud by several media outlets, and the media have collectively tried to assassinate his character. I have gravitated towards him even more because of this. Let’s face it, we all love an underdog story! Football is a sport which captures many emotions. In an ideal world, Sterling would help Arsenal, and would bring us closer to winning a Premier League title.
Source: Twitter
