One of the biggest headlines on deadline day was Arsenal completing a deal to sign Raheem Sterling from Chelsea.
Enzo Maresca had made it blindingly clear that Raheem Sterling had no future at Chelsea heading into the final few days of the window.
The 29-year-old winger had been left out of Chelsea’s matchday squads completely and Maresca insisted that he had to leave as he would have no first-team minutes with the Blues this season.
Chelsea had entered talks with Manchester United over Sterling, but the Red Devils turned down the chance to sign the England international.
On the morning of deadline day, HITC revealed that Arsenal had been offered the chance to sign Sterling and the Gunners ended up getting a last-gasp deal over the line.
Rio Ferdinand reacts to ‘ridiculous’ Raheem Sterling move
Sterling’s first trip to The Emirates as an Arsenal player ended with him watching his new side drop points in a 1-1 draw against Brighton – but he will be available for selection when they are next in action against Tottenham.
Mikel Arteta will hope that Sterling’s experience of winning trophies at Manchester City will help drive the Gunners towards a Premier League title of their own this season.
Rio Ferdinand has shared his thoughts on the move, and he believes Arsenal have just landed themselves a brilliant deal.Speaking on his Rio Ferdinand Presents YouTube channel, he said “What a mad circus act that was, that whole situation, but I’m so happy for Raheem Sterling that this situation got sorted out and he got to go to a club he wanted to go to.
“When you look at it and you go ‘okay yeah he’s taken a wage cut’, Arsenal are not paying a loan fee which is huge for them. Great business by Arsenal.
“I think he’s taken almost half a wage cut to go there. From Arsenal’s perspective, this is a ridiculous bit of business.
“You have an experienced winger in his late 20’s, who has won four Premier Leagues and knows how to get it done.
“Played for some of the biggest teams this country has to offer – outside of Manchester United – has 80-odd caps for England, experienced, knows the path to get trophies over the line. That is invaluable.”
A low-risk move for Arsenal
Without paying a loan fee and without having to cover Sterling’s huge wages, this does look like a superb deal for Arsenal.
Even if Sterling’s move to North London doesn’t work out, they aren’t set to lose anything.
He can add great depth to Arsenal’s front line and can provide great back-up for Bukayo Saka, who played far too many games last season.
If Arteta is able to help Sterling rediscover the form he showed at City – when Arteta was assistant manager – then it could indeed be a match made in heaven.
