Raheem Sterling is NOT a player of the past.
Sterling averages 1 goal contribution per 151 mins across his career. Last season at a dysfunctional Chelsea, he averaged 1 goal contribution every 153 mins.
I guarantee that he will SUCCEED at & IMPROVE Arteta's Arsenal!
THREAD! 🔴
Sterling averages 1 goal contribution per 151 mins across his career. Last season at a dysfunctional Chelsea, he averaged 1 goal contribution every 153 mins.
I guarantee that he will SUCCEED at & IMPROVE Arteta's Arsenal!
THREAD! 🔴
Raheem Sterling averages 24 goals and assists per season over the last 10 seasons & is available to play in over 90% of games each season.
He guarantees a goal contribution every game and a half & he miraculously maintained that standard at a haphazard Chelsea last season.
Wow.
He guarantees a goal contribution every game and a half & he miraculously maintained that standard at a haphazard Chelsea last season.
Wow.
We're talking about the 19th all time top scorer in the Premier League, the footballer of the year in 2019, a 4 time Premier League champion, someone who has 8 domestic cup titles, who scored 9 goals in 22 games at the World Cup/Euro's, played in a CL final..
Let's respect that.
Let's respect that.
But let's not only respect that, let's acknowledge that this guy is STILL producing output at the same rate he did throughout his career.
The perception of his performance has merely dwindled as a consequence of Chelsea's current level & Southgate's decision to move on from him.
The perception of his performance has merely dwindled as a consequence of Chelsea's current level & Southgate's decision to move on from him.
Let's rewind time, then. Let's actually assess the supposed downfall of Raheem Sterling.
First of all, why did City sell him?
Raheem Sterling averaged 28 goals and assists per season in his 6 seasons at Manchester City.
These are incredible numbers that led the team to titles.
First of all, why did City sell him?
Raheem Sterling averaged 28 goals and assists per season in his 6 seasons at Manchester City.
These are incredible numbers that led the team to titles.
In Sterling's last season at the club, he contributed to 25 goals in 47 games, so there was no major downturn in form..
Pep simply wanted to build the team in a different direction to win the Champions League.
He felt his team was soft in defence and not ruthless in attack.
Pep simply wanted to build the team in a different direction to win the Champions League.
He felt his team was soft in defence and not ruthless in attack.
Out went Laporte, Cancelo, Zinchenko in defence, and out went Sterling and Jesus in attack.
In came Akanji, Alvarez and Haaland.
The difference in physicality in defence and finishing quality in attack was clear.
Pep was vindicated as City went on to win the Champions League.
In came Akanji, Alvarez and Haaland.
The difference in physicality in defence and finishing quality in attack was clear.
Pep was vindicated as City went on to win the Champions League.
People may argue that Sterling & Haaland/Alvarez could have co-existed, but not with the way Pep manages.
Guardiola typically plays with two direct players on the pitch at once with everyone else being control-centred to help the team retain possession & pin the opposition back.
Guardiola typically plays with two direct players on the pitch at once with everyone else being control-centred to help the team retain possession & pin the opposition back.
With De Bruyne already being one option & Haaland/Alvarez becoming the second option, Pep needed extra technical control on the sides.
He preferred the likes of Grealish, Foden, Bernardo, & Mahrez on the wings as opposed to a direct profile who is more likely to cause turnovers.
He preferred the likes of Grealish, Foden, Bernardo, & Mahrez on the wings as opposed to a direct profile who is more likely to cause turnovers.
Ultimately, that's how Manchester City won the Champions League.
They maintained their ability to control games in between the boxes whilst improving their ability to defend their own box and their ability to finish ruthlessly in the opposition's box (where Sterling struggles).
They maintained their ability to control games in between the boxes whilst improving their ability to defend their own box and their ability to finish ruthlessly in the opposition's box (where Sterling struggles).
See, Sterling is the kind of guy who guarantees output, but not quite at the same rate as Erling Haaland or with the same ruthlessness as Julian Alvarez.
Sterling is the type to get 3 or 4 chances before he scores a goal.
Haaland and Alvarez are the type to score with 1 or 2.
Sterling is the type to get 3 or 4 chances before he scores a goal.
Haaland and Alvarez are the type to score with 1 or 2.
However, Manchester City won 4 Premier League titles in 6 seasons with Sterling as the main man alongside Aguero and De Bruyne.
Pep 'persisted' with him for over half a decade and won everything aside from the Champions League with him for a reason - because he IS a TOP player..
Pep 'persisted' with him for over half a decade and won everything aside from the Champions League with him for a reason - because he IS a TOP player..
Heck, in an alternate universe, if there is space for a guy like Doku at City then there is still space for a guy like Sterling.
Pep made a decision to replace world class quality with elite quality. He turned a Premier League winning team into a Champions League winning team.
Pep made a decision to replace world class quality with elite quality. He turned a Premier League winning team into a Champions League winning team.
Sterling went to Chelsea but unfortunately for him Thomas Tuchel was sacked and Graham Potter + Frank Lampard came into the club in the same season and he had 3 managers in what was an abysmal season for Chelsea who finished 12th (Sterling still maintained output every 197 mins).
Then there was last season when the madness at Chelsea continued as they hired and fired Mauricio Pochettino before appointing Enzo Maresca in an attempt to help the club get back into the top four.
Despite that chaos, Sterling still contributed to just under 20 goals & assists.
Despite that chaos, Sterling still contributed to just under 20 goals & assists.
Up comes the start of the 24/25 season and Sterling is one of many who have been shown the door at Chelsea as a consequence of Todd Boehly spending over a billion in two seasons.
In that time, Sterling was dropped from the England squad and has failed to make his way in since.
In that time, Sterling was dropped from the England squad and has failed to make his way in since.
I would argue that Gareth Southgate has moved on from Sterling due to his age, his perceived underperformance at Chelsea, and the incredible competition for places on the left hand-side for England, but that is not necessarily something I agree with.
Perception is not reality.
Perception is not reality.
Sterling's output at Chelsea has been fantastic when considering the situation at the club.
Not only that, but when we objectively analyse his performances it is very obvious that the same player that excelled at City is still there.
Raheem can force his way into Arsenal's XI..
Not only that, but when we objectively analyse his performances it is very obvious that the same player that excelled at City is still there.
Raheem can force his way into Arsenal's XI..
See, Arsenal are not quite at the stage where City were in their project when they moved on from Sterling.
They still want to win their first title.
Sterling helps in that pursuit as he GUARANTEES output.
He may take 3 or 4 chances to score provide it, but it will always come.
They still want to win their first title.
Sterling helps in that pursuit as he GUARANTEES output.
He may take 3 or 4 chances to score provide it, but it will always come.
Pep was frustrated with Sterling in one-off Champions League knock-out games where his missed chances cost City, but across the course of the season his ability to get chances results in an overriding beneficial contribution.
Sterling guarantees output (and subsequent points).
Sterling guarantees output (and subsequent points).
Sterling may miss some chances that results in Arsenal dropping a couple of points here and there, but his overall ability to contribute to goals and assists will see him add more than he costs them.
His finishing can be frustrating, but his 'xG mining' is what won City titles..
His finishing can be frustrating, but his 'xG mining' is what won City titles..
Raheem struggles to strike through the ball, but he's an incredibly effective player. Few players in world football get as many chances as him.
This iteration of Sterling still exists, even if Chelsea fans think otherwise.
See, missing chances frustrates teams who lose a lot...
This iteration of Sterling still exists, even if Chelsea fans think otherwise.
See, missing chances frustrates teams who lose a lot...
Sterling is a menace, a constant threat in behind, in the dribble, and he consistently attacks the box.
He can play on both wings, beat his man in 1v1 situations via acceleration or through technical dribbling (on the inside and outside), and he can receive in between the lines.
He can play on both wings, beat his man in 1v1 situations via acceleration or through technical dribbling (on the inside and outside), and he can receive in between the lines.
Sterling is like Martinelli in terms of transitional threat, except he's less likely to drift out of games.
Although he misses chances, he never shies away from getting into dangerous positions
His mentality and willingness to show up time and time again is admirable.
Although he misses chances, he never shies away from getting into dangerous positions
His mentality and willingness to show up time and time again is admirable.
Not to mention that he has a good balance of being direct and being technically secure, works his socks off out of possession, and is used to Pep's mechanisms which are very similar to Arteta's (holding the width, knowing when to attack the box, how to press in a 4-4-2, etc).
Heck, I wouldn't put it past Arteta using Raheem in a Julian Alvarez type role in central areas, or even shifting Martinelli/Trossard into a central role to accommodate him on the left.
Sterling is an incredible signing, guys - one that absolutely pips Arsenal towards the title.
Sterling is an incredible signing, guys - one that absolutely pips Arsenal towards the title.
We also have to assess the signing relative to what Arsenal need:
- Depth in attacking areas ✅
- Output in the final third ✅
- and a transitional threat ✅
Arsenal moved Reiss Nelson on, a tidy Sancho-esque player, but nothing more than a squad player, for a game-changer.
- Depth in attacking areas ✅
- Output in the final third ✅
- and a transitional threat ✅
Arsenal moved Reiss Nelson on, a tidy Sancho-esque player, but nothing more than a squad player, for a game-changer.
Sterling has a fierce mentality, guys.
He won't accept anything other than fighting his way into Arteta's plans. He did not join to be a squad player.
As I said, this signing makes Arsenal more likely to win the title this season.
They are going to go toe-to-toe with City 💯🛑
He won't accept anything other than fighting his way into Arteta's plans. He did not join to be a squad player.
As I said, this signing makes Arsenal more likely to win the title this season.
They are going to go toe-to-toe with City 💯🛑
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