'Surprised': Jamie Redknapp changes his mind on Arsenal's summer deal for 'quality' player

Arsenal put Bolton to the sword and booked their ticket to the next round of the League Cup on Wednesday night at the Emirates.

This was a night about Arsenal’s youngsters, with several teenagers stealing the headlines, including Ethan Nwaneri and Jack Porter.

Nwaneri ended up scoring a brace for Arsenal, with Declan Rice opening the scoring, Kai Havertz coming off the bench and also finding the back of the net, and Raheem Sterling scored his first goal for the club.

This was Sterling‘s first start for the Gunners following his deadline-day loan move from London rivals Chelsea.

There were several big headline moves in the Premier League in the summer, including Sterling, who had fallen out of favour under new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca, being allowed to leave and that to their neighbours.

Mikel Arteta had worked with Sterling at Manchester City, so from that perspective, he knew the player inside out.

Plus, the Gunners needed some added depth for their wide areas, especially given that they are trying to push and beat Manchester City to the Premier League title.

Despite that, Jamie Redknapp admitted that he was ‘slightly surprised’ when Sterling rocked up at the Emirates.

But fast forward to the present, he has changed his mind on this deal and he ‘totally gets it’ and added that the England international will bring ‘guaranteed goals’, as he told Sky Sports Football (25/09/24 at 7:35 pm).

Raheem Sterling’s loan move from Chelsea to Arsenal

“I was slightly surprised at this move, but now you totally get it,” said Redknapp. “He gives you an extra, not just a body, but someone who can add quality and goals.

“He can play on both sides. He can play as a number ten if he wanted or as a striker. He can fill any of those positions up front. You are guaranteed goals from him. He needs to play. He wasn’t going to get a game at Chelsea with all the players they have got there.

“He has a massive opportunity to show everyone because I don’t think he covered himself in glory at all towards the end at Chelsea, but now this is the big chance for him. I like that with players (Sterling has a point to prove). As a manager, you are in a great position, he is going to come in and want to make an impact. Guaranteed, he will get goals. A confident boy and it’s a really good move for him.”

Raheem Sterling will prove people wrong at Chelsea

It’s not like Chelsea have been shining bright in recent years that they can shout from the rooftops because they have been abject despite spending over £1bn.

But Sterling wasn’t exactly performing like Cole Palmer either, so from that perspective, he has to take the verbal hits on the chin.

READ MORE: Paul Merson says £60,000-a-week player is finally ‘showing his class’ after leaving Arsenal

And now he has the perfect chance to prove many people wrong and that for a team that is very close to winning the Premier League title.

If Sterling does that, then he can walk back into Stamford Bridge with the biggest smile on his face.