‘He’s a winner’: Mikel Arteta blown away by Arsenal star ahead of north London derby

Former Arsenal star Theo Walcott has heaped praise on Raheem Sterling ahead of the Premier League clash against Tottenham Hotspur on Sunday afternoon.

The England international joined the Gunners on a season-long loan from Chelsea on deadline day.

He was ineligible to face Brighton & Hove Albion earlier this month, but manager Mikel Arteta has confirmed that he will make the squad for the north London derby.

Ahead of the game, Walcott has said that Sterling’s signing is a ‘match made in heaven’ as the 29-year-old has joined a stable group that enjoys playing their football.

The 35-year-old added that the Liverpool graduate has the ability to play anywhere in the final third and ‘he is a winner’ who is now in an environment where he is loved.

Walcott said on The Football News Show (via BBC Sport): “I look at the Raheem Sterling signing and think it’s absolutely a match made in heaven because Raheem is now in a stable group that dominates the ball and enjoys playing their football.

“There’s no more chopping and changing managers or uncertainty of whether he is or isn’t going to play. There is definitely a togetherness within the whole group.

“The beautiful thing about Raheem is that he can play in any of those three positions up front or even in that 10 position behind the striker.

“He’s going to be able to take a little bit of pressure off of Saka because Saka plays a lot of football. He’ll put pressure on Trossard and Martinelli to get in the starting 11.

“He’s a winner and is now in an environment where he is loved.”

STERLING COULD BE A DIFFERENCE MAKER AT ARSENAL

Arsenal were widely tipped to sign a winger during the closing stages of the window and they eventually took the opportunity to land Sterling on a temporary basis.

The Gunners are reportedly paying only £97,500 per week without any loan fee. In our view, sporting director Edu Gaspar has pulled out a masterstroke with the deal.

Arsenal will spend around £4.3m until the end of June in wages. The club have nothing to lose and could have plenty to benefit if Sterling can find his form and confidence.

Sterling’s form was patchy during the 2023/24 season at Chelsea, but he was still one of their best players after Cole Palmer with 18 goal contributions in all competitions.

We believe the Englishman could have a similar impact as Leandro Trossard. He could be a difference maker for the Gunners with his goal contributions off the bench.

Sterling can play on either wing or up front. He can operate behind the main striker too. The attacker could be in line for his debut against Tottenham on Sunday.