Mikel Arteta was convinced to sign Raheem Sterling in 10 seconds of phone call.

Raheem Sterling’s move to Arsenal was finalized in a manner that could be described as nothing short of a dream come true for the player. The deal, which saw Sterling join the Gunners on a season-long loan from Chelsea, was practically sealed over a phone call with Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta.

The transfer window was nearing its end, and Arsenal were in the market for a new attacker. Despite being linked with several names, it was Raheem Sterling who emerged as a late but viable option. The pivotal moment came when Sterling spoke to Arteta over the phone. During this conversation, Sterling expressed his deep desire to join Arsenal, stating, “I was dreaming of this call”. This heartfelt declaration convinced Arteta of Sterling’s commitment and passion for the move.

Arteta, who had previously worked with Sterling during their time at Manchester City, needed no further persuasion. He later revealed that he knew within ten seconds of the conversation that Sterling was the right fit for Arsenal. The manager was impressed not only by Sterling’s words but also by his evident hunger and determination to prove himself once again.

The deal itself was highly favorable for Arsenal. The Gunners secured Sterling on a loan without any obligation to make the move permanent in 2025. Additionally, Arsenal is only covering a third of Sterling’s wages, making it a low-risk, high-reward acquisition. This strategic move by Arsenal’s technical director, Edu Gaspar, ensured that the club strengthened its attacking options without significant financial strain.

Sterling’s arrival at Arsenal has been met with excitement and anticipation. The winger, who has a point to prove after being deemed surplus to requirements at Chelsea, is eager to make an impact. Arteta ha s already noted Sterling’s positive attitude and energy in training, highlighting his readiness to contribute to the team’s success.

Arteta also says that he will have no fears about putting Sterling into such a red-hot environment like Sunday. ‌“It is one of the things I love most about Raheem,” said Arteta. “You take him to any ground, anywhere in the world and he is willing to be there to make the difference.”

Sterling’s confidence has been impacted by his time at Chelsea, but Arteta believes he can re-establish it at Arsenal.‌ Arteta said: “We are going to try to give him everything that we believe is going to help him and empower him to get the best version of him. We will see daily how that looks.

‌“That is going to fluctuate in everybody’s career obviously. Knowing him and how he is about always playing, always being present and important.‌ “When you have that status and role for that to be changed, that hits you. We have to rebuild that but we have all the foundations and right context for him to get to the level we want.

“What I see is hunger. He’s a player that wants to play every minute of every game. When that’s not the case, he’s not happy. He wants to play every single day and I see that.‌ His commitment and the level of energy that he’s bringing to the team is a big boost. You can feel it walking through the door. We are better with him. He’s gonna make us better.

‌“He has this ability (to score goals) and the credit to that is him and the players he’s got around him certainly. He has that intuition and that will to do that. I’m sure it’s going to help the team.”