‘I played for Arsenal and know Mikel Arteta was dreaming of transfer Edu failed to land’
Raheem Sterling joined Arsenal on loan from Chelsea over the summer, but Gunners legend Emmanuel Petit believes he was a "panic buy" after the club missed out on Nico Williams
by Matthew Cooper · The MirrorArsenal legend Emmanuel Petit has claimed Mikel Arteta was "dreaming" about signing Nico Williams this summer, but had to settle for "panic buy" Raheem Sterling instead.
Arsenal strengthened their squad with the signings of Riccardo Calafiori and Mikel Merino, while also making David Raya's loan move permanent. Sterling was also signed on loan after falling out of favour at Chelsea, while Neto was brought in from Bournemouth as a back-up goalkeeper.
However, Petit says Arteta was actually hoping to sign Williams from Athletic Bilbao after he starred in Spain's Euro 2024 win instead of Sterling. "Raheem Sterling was a panic buy," he told Instant Casino.
"For me, Arteta knows that he's missing players, numbers in his squad, quality players in terms of rotation. He knows that, so at the end of the transfer market during the summer, he knew that he had no choice just to get Sterling because he didn't want to put the big money on the table for other players.
"I know that he was dreaming about Nico Williams, but he will never come to the Premier League. He will stay in Spain; he will go to Barcelona. Definitely. Sterling has been living a nightmare for years now.
"I think Sterling is probably one of the best examples of what life in the Premier League can do to a player that has tastes success after success after success. When you receive so much money for years and you win a lot of trophies, you're not starving anymore.
"You lose your passion; you lose your priorities sometimes and you're enjoying your life. I wonder if Sterling was starting his career that he would probably play differently. It was like that during my time as well. It's common for human beings."
Sterling has only played a bit part role for Arsenal this season, with four of his six appearances in the Premier League and Champions League coming off the bench, and Petit is not the only pundit to have criticised the move.
Former Premier League striker Chris Sutton told the 'It's All Kicking Off!' podcast : "Surely, Raheem Sterling would be a player who could come on and turn the game and create a chance and give them a bit of momentum. That's not the case, so he's not getting on.
"But the fact that he can't, you know, that five subs go on in front of him is pretty telling. So that's one to watch. But I suppose Mikel Arteta will be viewing Raheem Sterling. I can only say from the outside, you know, I'm not on the inside of Arsenal. But we'll be viewing Raheem Sterling as a bit of a disappointment, really."
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