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Intriguing Raheem Sterling comments provide insight into the type of person Mikel Arteta really is at Arsenal

Billy Meyers

Thu 13 March 2025 15:45, UK

Raheem Sterling delivered what was arguably his best performance yet for Arsenal against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday evening.

The England international provided a fantastic cross – after a mesmeric dribble – for Declan Rice to score a thumping heade🌊r, and picked up the official UEFA Champions League Man of the Match award for his efforts.

That is magical work down the wing from Raheem Sterling ✨

Sterling takes on two PSV players and puts in a cross to Declan Rice, who scores for a second successive match for Arsenal 🤝🔴

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt)

Raheem Sterling then spoke to Reshmin Chowdhury – as well as Martin Keown and Joe Cole – after the final whistle, where he made an interesting comment about Mikel Arteta.

What Raheem Sterling said about Mikel Arteta

As we all saw in Amazon Prime’s All or Nothing documentary, the Spaniard can be a fierce operator when he wants to be, ruthlessly banishing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal as one example of his somewhat brut🙈al approach to 🎃management at times.

Speaking inside the Emirates Stadium, Sterling – who almost joined Manchester United – said something which suggested Arteta is still a feisty character when he wants to be.

When asked whether he will be banging on the manager’sജ door for more minutes after his Man of the Match performance, the Arsenal No.30 told TNT💫 Sports: “With a leader like Mikel, he is not someone who I’d want to be knocking at his door physically.”

"I still believe that I've got a lot to play here" 💪

Raheem Sterling discusses his role at Arsenal and believes he still has more to give this season 🔴

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— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt)

To us, that suggests Arteta might not be the most approachable figure for those players hoping to receive more minutes, but at ꦆthe end of the day, it is the 42-year-old who decides and nobody else.

Raheem Sterling has a chance to stay at Arsenal beyond the summer

T♕he 30-year-old is only contracted to Arsenal until July, by which point he will return to Chelsea upon the expiration of h♕is loan spell.

However, the man from Kingston has a real chance to earn a permanent move t🐟o Arsenal in the final games of this season.

Chances should crop up for Sterling, 🙈who Paul Merson doubted would play again, in the Premier League – with Arsenal effectively out of the title race as they sit 15 points behind Liverpool – while he could be the hero in the second leg against Real Ma♐drid, if the Gunners remain in the tie at that point.

Position	Team	Played MP	Won W	Drawn D	Lost L	For GF	Against GA	Diff GD	Points Pts
1	LiverpoolLiverpool	29	21	7	1	69	27	42	70
2	ArsenalArsenal	28	15	10	3	52	24	28	55
3	Nottm ForestNottingham Forest	28	15	6	7	45	33	12	51
4	ChelseaChelsea	28	14	7	7	53	36	17	49

The Chel⛎sea loanee is unfortunately suspended for the first leg of the UEFA Champions🐷 League quarter-final.

Enzo Maresca already has a bloated attacking department on his hands at Stamford Bridge, so if Sterling steps up and shows some ♌of his form of old, he could♚ secure a permanent move to Arsenal.