Kai Havertz has expressed his excitement over Raheem Sterling’s arrival at Arsenal, describing the Chelsea winger as an ‘incredible’ addition to the squad. Sterling joined the Gunners on transfer deadline day, making the move from west to north London on a season-long loan.
Sterling, 29, brings a wealth of experience to Arsenal, having won four Premier League titles and played for top clubs like Manchester City, Liverpool, and Chelsea. Despite his achievements, Sterling found himself sidelined by new Chelsea manager Enzo Maresca, who excluded the England international from first-team training and encouraged him to seek a move before the summer transfer window closed.
Now with Arsenal, Sterling aims to help the club in their bid to end a lengthy Premier League title drought and make a strong impact in the Champions League. Arsenal’s European campaign begins this Thursday against Italian side Atalanta.
“It’s incredible,” Havertz told Stadium Astro following Arsenal’s 1-0 win over Tottenham in the north London derby. “I had the joy to play with him at Chelsea. He’s an incredible player. If you see his stats in the Premier League, it’s outstanding. You see how much quality he brings to the team, and I think we are all very happy to have him.”
Sterling made his Arsenal debut as a late substitute in the derby, helping the Gunners secure a hard-fought victory, thanks to Gabriel’s 64th-minute header.
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta acknowledged the challenge of facing Tottenham but was pleased with how his side defended throughout the game.
“They are a great side and create an unbelievable atmosphere,” Arteta said. “We knew it would be tough. We believed we could hurt them, and while we weren’t the best with the ball today, the way we defended was top drawer.”
Arteta added that Arsenal had to adapt to Tottenham’s difficult structure and focus on delivering set-piece opportunities, which ultimately led to the winning goal.
Sterling, who joined Chelsea from Manchester City for £50m in 2022, made 81 appearances for the Blues before moving to Arsenal. Now, he looks to make a significant impact at the Emirates Stadium as the Gunners continue their push for silverware this season.
