ARSENAL manager Mikel Arteta revealed it only took 10 seconds to convince him to sign Raheem Sterling because he saw immense “hunger” in the ex-Chelsea star.
Sterling, 29, joined the Gunners on loan from the Blues during the final hours of transfer deadline day last month after he fell out of favour at Stamford Bridge.
The winger and Arteta spoke on the phone and he knew almost right away that the Chelsea ace would be perfect for his squad.
The Spanish tactician and Sterling worked together at Manchester City when the former was Pep Guardiola’s assistant manager.
And the 42-year-old coach is adamant that a reunion at the Emirates will be successful because the England international “really wants it”.
Arteta said: “The first call I had with him, I knew in the first 10 seconds we have to bring him because he really wanted it.
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“That was my only question mark: ‘What stage is he at in his career?’
“After 10 seconds, I knew already before the next questions that we needed him here.
“What I see is hunger. He’s a player that wants to play every minute of every game.
“You can feel it walking through the door. We are better with him. He’s going to make us better.”
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Sterling is in line for an Arsenal debut on Sunday in the North London Derby at Tottenham.
Arteta will need the ex-Liverpool star to shine as he faces quite a few problems heading to the clash with Spurs.
The Gunners will be without the suspended Declan Rice and the injured Mikel Merino, while captain Martin Odegaard and summer signing Riccardo Calafiori pose as doubts.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
