when I told you that Raheem Sterling could be on his way to Arsenal nobody could believe it and I told you get back to me when he's at Arsenal okay but you know the more you think of right to be honest uh yesterday was like no surely not but aeta I think there was a I believe there was a crossover at Man City between the two of them so it was so he does know him uh and oh there you go this is what he said to say about him my time with Raheem was exceptional we built a really strong relationship together he was unbelievable at that time he taught me a lot as well about individuals how the players think how we support them he's someone I have really strong feelings about yeah but he's not the same player that we a t was at uh Manchester City so there is that inconsistency and then there is a big problem with risk now if this deal goes through in 28 minutes or whatever it is uh then you would got to feel that Arsenal have mitigated a lot of the risk through the salary uh because the salary is on now Arsenal don't want to take that on over a longer period so I I would sort of swing around from yesterday in a sense that he would give some cover to Baya Saka who plays and has played a lot of football uh obviously we talked yesterday about trossard Martinelli the other side trossard covers a few positions Smith row has gone now uh so maybe he's looking for a better cover cover but it has to be the right deal for Arsenal not one of these last minute gungho heading The Heading the crap deals that they they put themselves in years ago and left themselves with a lot of big earners this has to work for Arsenal and let's see if they're able to get that done but primarily because of what aeta statement says there clearly he feels that he's got a part to play possibly in helping this squad he wouldn't start but he could help the squad well Mark Ogden and yanaga fot after are joining us now Mark Ogden has been keeping a very close eye on those transferred dealings it's said to be very close Mark what more can you tell us about this Raheem Sterling to Arsenal situation yeah well I'm just looking at the clock now so there's 28 minutes the deadline and what I was told maybe 10 minutes ago is that the clubs have agreed a deal and it's now with Raheem Sterling's lawyers to just just fine-tune the agreement so as long as they don't find anything to worry about in the next 25 30 minutes I think the deal is going to get done so it is very close to the wire but there's a confidence now that it's going to get done although the caveat with the Sterling Camp is that it's not done yet but they are really trying to get over the line so it's just it's just with the lawyers now it's just with the the contracts and just making sure everything Stacks up so is this is this are we talking loan deal or are we talking permanent here Orie it's a long deal initially Craig and with an expect an expectation at the end of the season that it will be become a permanent deal so he's got three years left in his contract at Chelsea and obviously he signed I think was about 50 million pound two years ago so with amortization at the end of the at the end of the season I don't think the deal would cost Arsenal too much I think you're probably looking at around 20 million pound I think that's what it would be worth at the time so I guess if Sterling has a good season 20 million pound for a player of his experience is a good deal but initially it's loone and what I was told early in the week was that he's on a massive contact at Chelsea 300,000 a week Chelsea just to get him out the door would probably go to halfway covering that so if that's the case if they're covering half his wages and Arsenal getting this guy for 150 Grand a week that is that is good that is good business for Arsenal for a player that has got a lot of pedigree a lot of he's won he's won everything apart from the Champions League he knows meletta so I think all around it's a good deal if you can get it over the line it was still Advantage Manchester City when you looked at their bench and there's no way your starting 11 will go the whole season so you will see you you have a look who you need there he's an intelligent player he will know his position he will know where where he goes and maybe this is exactly what St needs as well to get a manager that believe in him and give him a freshh start it's another former Manchester City player for Micha tataka coming into Arsenal obviously Gabrielle Jus sinenko Rahim Sterling is another those two never yeah I I I have to say I I don't get this I I I really don't um listen I I understand Arsenal one bodies want to to to Mark term uh pedigree and and and they find that in in rahee steing but stilling has done nothing in the last two years that suggests he makes Arsenal any better even as a squad player and so if we're here talking about maybe a 20 million package or 150 Grand a week for a player who's there to cover sacka to give him a rest um to to maybe add some experience to a dressing room I I find that a lot of money to pay for a player who who doesn't make you better I I I'm I I I just don't see I I don't see the value in this um listen great may maybe it's exactly what doesn't and he goes in and proves me totally wrong but as we sit here um I I'm I'm not sure what we hanging our hat on in terms of these numbers well I well I I know what you I know what you mean but when City have to rest players and they are they are the the you know that's the team that the others are aspiring to and Arsenal have got close the last couple of years but when City need to rest players and and in the modern day you just can't go through these Seasons now with 14 players he just just just it's not going to happen uh they bring in maybe not equally as good but they bring in quality and they've lost one of those in julan Alvarez but when Gish was out of form it was Dau who was 60 million is a young guy I know that but coming in when uh if for was out of form it was Alvarez coming in Bernardo s the list goes on and Arsenal certainly didn't have that on the right hand side if you can't give buaya Saka and Martin odard in particular rest during the domestic season of 38 games you're probably not going to win the league and so I don't think it's an ideal scenario but I think it's the best case scenario for Arsenal and and alet his eyes if the risk is mitigated with Chelsea paying the bulk of the salary but he's still going to have to come in and do a job but ultimately you're paying money to have experience bit of quality bit of pace bit of uh no on the bench that can come in and cover key players and Arsenal have learned the hard way in the last 18 months or so that you cannot win this league unless you can do that the chaos that engulfed Chelsea with Raheem Sterling being sidelined from the first team by manager Enzo moresa and informed that he would no longer play for the club opened up a window of opportunity that Arsenal did not hesitate to exploit according to information revealed by football transfers the Gunners stepped up their efforts on Deadline day and quickly reached an agreement with Chelsea to bring Sterling to the Emirates Stadium as reported by Fabrizio Romano the deal was finalized as a loan with no option or obligation to buy at the end of the period this move reignited speculations that had already surfaced earlier in the transfer window when Sterling's name was linked to Arsenal at the time Mikel Etta's public response was enigmatic but hopeful indicating that the Spanish coach viewed the forward's arrival favorably Aletta who had previously worked with Sterling during his time as assistant manager at Manchester city did not hide his admiration for the player you have to be alert and prepared because many surprises can come we will be ready Etta previously stated when asked about a potential move for Sterling the Spanish manager was full of praise for his former pupil my time with Raheem was exceptional we built a very strong relationship together he was incredible during the time we were together he also taught me a lot about individuals how they players think and how we support them he is someone for whom I have very strong feelings Sterling's arrival at Arsenal represents more than just a quality reinforcement with his experience and skills he brings the depth necessary to give Bayo Saka one of the team's key players some much needed rest last season Saka suffered from a few minor injuries and Sterling's presence could be crucial in preventing a recurrence providing adequate cover and allowing the young Talent the rest he needs to maintain his high level of performance throughout the season now Arsenal fans are eager to see how Etta will utilize Sterling and how this new signing will impact the club's campaign with an additional option in attack and the possibility of giving soccer a breather Arsenal seems better prepared to face the challenges ahead and you Gunners fan do you believe that Raheem Sterling's arrival at Arsenal will be the decisive factor in the team's quest for titles this season