After making his deadline day move from Chelsea, Raheem Sterling feels that switching from west to north London is the right move at this stage of his career.
The England international managed to complete a season-long loan move from the Blues just before the summer window shut, wrapping up our business after a busy few months by securing the services of a hugely decorated player with four Premier League winner’s medals under his belt.
And as he surveyed his options, Raheem felt that there was one club that was ideal for him to take the next step in his career with, and was delighted when we came calling.
Reflecting on his switch, he 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.”
Raheem is a player that Mikel Arteta knows very well indeed, as the pair previously worked together at Manchester City for three and a half years, a period of time that saw the 82-time capped forward produce his best productive goalscoring seasons.
Both will be hoping to recapture that scintillating form that pushed City to new levels in the Premier League, and having seen his former assistant manager revitalise our fortunes, Raheem can’t wait to experience his methods once again.
“He’s a top guy, a top character,” he said of his new boss. “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.”
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