Raheem Sterling delivered what was arguably his best performance yet for Arsenal against PSV Eindhoven on Wednesday evening.
The England international provided a fantastic cross – after a mesmeric dribble – for Declan Rice to score a thumping header, and picked up the official UEFA Champions League Man of the Match award for his efforts.
That is magical work down the wing from Raheem Sterling ✨
Sterling takes on two PSV players and puts in a cross to Declan Rice, who scores for a second successive match for Arsenal 🤝🔴
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK pic.twitter.com/FgtVHLPBdj
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 12, 2025
Raheem Sterling then spoke to Reshmin Chowdhury – as well as Martin Keown and Joe Cole – after the final whistle, where he made an interesting comment about Mikel Arteta.
What Raheem Sterling said about Mikel Arteta
As we all saw in Amazon Prime’s All or Nothing documentary, the Spaniard can be a fierce operator when he wants to be, ruthlessly banishing Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang from Arsenal as one example of his somewhat brutal approach to management at times.
Speaking inside the Emirates Stadium, Sterling – who almost joined Manchester United – said something which suggested Arteta is still a feisty character when he wants to be.
When asked whether he will be banging on the manager’s door for more minutes after his Man of the Match performance, the Arsenal No.30 told TNT Sports: “With a leader like Mikel, he is not someone who I’d want to be knocking at his door physically.”
“I still believe that I’ve got a lot to play here” 💪
Raheem Sterling discusses his role at Arsenal and believes he still has more to give this season 🔴
📺 @tntsports & @discoveryplusUK | 🎙 @ReshminTV pic.twitter.com/1upWMrJkEZ
— Football on TNT Sports (@footballontnt) March 12, 2025
To us, that suggests Arteta might not be the most approachable figure for those players hoping to receive more minutes, but at the end of the day, it is the 42-year-old who decides and nobody else.
Raheem Sterling has a chance to stay at Arsenal beyond the summer
The 30-year-old is only contracted to Arsenal until July, by which point he will return to Chelsea upon the expiration of his loan spell.
However, the man from Kingston has a real chance to earn a permanent move to Arsenal in the final games of this season.
Chances should crop up for Sterling, who Paul Merson doubted would play again, in the Premier League – with Arsenal effectively out of the title race as they sit 15 points behind Liverpool – while he could be the hero in the second leg against Real Madrid, if the Gunners remain in the tie at that point.
| Position | Team | Played MP |
Won W |
Drawn D |
Lost L |
For GF |
Against GA |
Diff GD |
Points Pts |
| 1 |  LiverpoolLiverpool |
29 | 21 | 7 | 1 | 69 | 27 | 42 | 70 |
| 2 |  ArsenalArsenal |
28 | 15 | 10 | 3 | 52 | 24 | 28 | 55 |
| 3 |  Nottm ForestNottingham Forest |
28 | 15 | 6 | 7 | 45 | 33 | 12 | 51 |
| 4 |  ChelseaChelsea |
28 | 14 | 7 | 7 | 53 | 36 | 17 | 49 |
The Chelsea loanee is unfortunately suspended for the first leg of the UEFA Champions League quarter-final.
Enzo Maresca already has a bloated attacking department on his hands at Stamford Bridge, so if Sterling steps up and shows some of his form of old, he could secure a permanent move to Arsenal.
