'Always challenges' - Arsenal's newest star Raheem Sterling on why Emirates is 'perfect fit'

Arsenal’s newest recruit Raheem Sterling believes the Emirates to be the ‘perfect’ fit for himself after signing a season-long loan with the Gunners on transfer Deadline Day.

The 29-year-old winger found himself a victim of Chelsea’s summer of recruitment with new head coach Enzo Maresca confirming to the former Manchester City star that he would have no place for him in the squad for the 2024/25 campaign.

Several clubs were linked with a move for the England international - including Juventus and sides in the Saudi Pro League - but there was evidently one club that trumped all others and a last minute deal was secured that will now see Sterling, who as 123 top-flight goals to his name, compete in N7.

Speaking to the Gunners’ website on his arrival, the winger said: “I’m buzzing. It’s one where we left it late but it’s one I was hoping for. Looking at everything, I’m just like: ‘this is a perfect fit for me’, and I’m super happy that we got it over the line. “It’s a perfect fit for myself to be at a football club like this, where you can see that hunger, that desire, year on year, they are pushing and pushing and pushing. That’s exactly how I am as a person.

“Each year you want to get better and do better than the previous year. Hopefully I can gel really well with the boys and get going. It’s time now to meet the boys, get settled in and hopefully now see some game time and make my mark.”

Sterling and Arteta are of course no stranger to working with one another following their time together at Manchester City from 2016-2019. Earlier this summer, the Spanish head coach even said of the English winger: “He was unbelievable at the time we were together and he taught me a lot as well about individuals, how they play and how we give them support and help them. He’s someone I have a really strong feeling about.” Now, Sterling has returned the favour and has called his new head coach a ‘top character’, and confirms his excitement at the prospect of a new challenge.

“(Arteta’s) a top guy, a top character,” Sterling added “I’ve been watching his journey because I spent some time with him at Manchester City, and to see him come in here and stamp his mark on this amazing football club, with this amazing history, it says a lot about him and the great job he is doing here.

“You can see the real togetherness, the journey that the boys are on, and the hunger. The togetherness is something I’m looking to be a part of. I’m really excited. There are always challenges and this is another challenge. It’s one that I’m relishing and I’ll really go out there and do my thing.”