Mikel Arteta sets Raheem Sterling challenge – ‘He will want to prove Chelsea wrong’

Emmanuel Petit has challenged Raheem Sterling to prove he is still ‘world class’ following his deadline day move to Arsenal.

Chelsea outcast Sterling swapped Stamford Bridge for a season-long loan move to the Emirates and could make his debut in Sunday afternoon’s North London derby. The 29-year-old’s career has been on a downward trajectory, losing his place in the England squad and then being deemed surplus to requirements by Blues boss Enzo Maresca.

However, former Chelsea and Arsenal star Petit has thrown down the gauntlet to the star to show he still belongs at the top of the game.

He said: “I think that Sterling needs to show that he’s still a world-class player. He was on big wages at Chelsea, Arsenal are paying a fraction of those, but you need your best paid players to deliver week-in, week-out. That has been his biggest problem.

“I think he’s been quite inconsistent for the last few seasons, even towards the end of his time at Manchester City. Sterling can be very good for two or three games and, all of a sudden, you don’t see him for three weeks.

“Sterling knows that he’s facing competition at Arsenal, but they are a totally different club to Chelsea. There is stability, serenity at the club, so this is something that can help bring the best out of him.”

Sterling was brutally axed by new Chelsea chief Maresca and faced being left in the cold before Mikel Arteta swooped in the final hours of the transfer window. Petit believes the Spanish boss will provide the forward with the perfect platform to rediscover his form.

“The environment at Arsenal is definitely not the same at Chelsea, so I think that will suit Sterling perfectly,” said Petit. “He knows exactly what type of dressing room he’s walking into at Arsenal. He’s joining a great group of motivated players, and a very good club that is looking to win the Premier League this season.

“He would have seen Arsenal’s improvement over the last three years. I think Arsenal is precisely the right environment for him to improve as a player; it’s the perfect place for him to regain his confidence. He will definitely want to show Chelsea that they made the wrong decision letting him go.”