Bosnia And Herzegovina
Burkina Faso
Czech Republic
Indonesia
South Korea

Mikel Arteta confirms double Arsenal transfer call as Raheem Sterling loan future decided

sportsmole.co.uk, 24 January 2025, 18:32
Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta has revealed whether the Gunners could terminate Raheem Sterling or Neto's loan deals this month.

Chelsea-owned Sterling made his first Champions League start of the season in Wednesday's 3-0 win over Dinamo Zagreb, but he was ineffective once again and came off before the hour mark.

Sterling has only managed to contribute one goal and two assists from 15 matches since his last-minute move to the Emirates on deadline day, playing a mere 215 minutes in the Premier League.

However, that is still 215 more minutes than Bournemouth loanee Neto has managed, as the 35-year-old is yet to make his Gunners debut since joining as Aaron Ramsdale's temporary replacement.

David Raya has stayed injury-free all season, and Neto has also been ineligible for the EFL Cup on account of representing Bournemouth earlier in the competition, allowing teenage duo Jack Porter and Tommy Setford to make their first-team debuts.

Arteta rules out sending Sterling back to Chelsea

As Premier League clubs can only have two players on loan from a fellow Premier League side at any one time, Arsenal are currently unable to sign another player from an English top-flight rival on a temporary deal.

The fact that Sterling and Neto have only been bit-part players has led to the suggestion that they could be axed this month, thus opening up one or two spots for Arsenal to bring in another Premier League player.

However, even though the Gunners are making no progress in their bid to sign a new striker, Arteta insisted that ending Sterling or Neto's loans are not an option, responding: "We're not thinking about that," when asked in Friday's press conference.

As a result, Arsenal could only complete a January deal for someone like Matheus Cunha permanently, although Wolverhampton Wanderers boss Vitor Pereira delivered a firm response when recently questioned on the Brazilian's future.

Arsenal had previously been tipped to enter the running for Manchester United's Marcus Rashford, although they could still benefit if the England international joins a particular European giant instead.

Is there an argument to end Sterling, Neto loans?

On the face of it, getting rid of an attacking player while Arsenal are already trying to add more attacking players is nonsensical, but it is clear that Sterling is a shadow of the winger he once was.

The ex-Manchester City man at least tried to be more direct against Dinamo Zagreb and take on his man, but his efforts were futile, and it is difficult to envisage a springtime revival for Sterling.

If sending the 30-year-old back to Chelsea could help Arsenal attract a younger and more versatile Rashford, that could very well be an avenue for the Gunners to explore, although they would first have to convince Man United to loan the attacker out to a Premier League rival.

In Neto's case, however, the South American is at least providing invaluable experience to the likes of Setford and Porter behind closed doors, even if there is a chance that he will end his Arsenal stint with no minutes to his name.

Should Raya indeed suffer a serious injury between now and the end of the season, Neto would be a reliable backup, and the ex-Barcelona man can sleep soundly knowing that he will not be on the move this month.

Written by

Ben Knapton

Show more

Top News

11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea are reportedly preparing to step up their interest in FC Copenhagen attacker Roony Bardghji, who has been dubbed the 'Swedish Lionel Messi'. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic have confirmed that they have reached a pre-contract agreement to re-sign Arsenal defender Kieran Tierney at the end of the season. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Chelsea have reportedly drawn up a plan to win the race for Nottingham Forest's Murillo this summer after trying and failing to lure him away from the City Ground in January. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Conor Bradley has earned the trust of Arne Slot and should be considered a candidate to replace Trent Alexander-Arnold should he leave the club in the summer, Reds expert David Lynch has argued. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Former Manchester City winger Shaun Wright-Phillips believes that Pep Guardiola's side "can win" against Real Madrid in Tuesday's Champions League showdown as long as they "cut the mistakes out". 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk All transfer business is done and dusted for this season, but that doesn't stop clubs from preparing ahead for next season. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Tranmere vs. Fleetwood (Tuesday, 7.45pm) Looking to turn their fortunes around, struggling Tranmere Rovers welcome Fleetwood Town for their rescheduled matchday 16 League Two fixture this Tuesday. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Coventry vs. QPR (Tuesday, 7.45pm) Frank Lampard's Coventry City will hope to bounce back from FA Cup disappointment when they host Queens Park Rangers on Tuesday in the Championship at the Coventry Arena. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Brest vs. PSG (Tuesday, 5.45pm) Frequent foes in the French top flight, Paris Saint-Germain and Brest swap Ligue 1 for the Champions League on Tuesday evening, colliding in the first leg of their playoff tie at the Stade Francis-Le Ble. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti has predicted the winner of the knockout round playoff tie with Manchester City will go on to win the Champions League. 11 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City boss Pep Guardiola and Real Madrid manager Carlo Ancelotti have addressed the controversy from the 2024 Ballon d'Or awards ahead of Tuesday's Champions League clash between their respective sides. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal midfielder Jorginho has reportedly reached an agreement to join Brazilian side Flamengo in the summer. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester City must axe Pep Guardiola if they fail to get past Real Madrid in the Champions League. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Separated by five points in the middle of the Championship table, Swansea City and Sheffield Wednesday will square off in South Wales on Wednesday. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Abdoulaye Doucoure has criticised Frank Lampard's treatment of him during his time as Everton manager. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly interested in signing Barcelona defender Alejandro Balde during the summer transfer window. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Arsenal are reportedly growing in confidence that they will complete the signing of Espanyol goalkeeper Joan Garcia this summer after last year's failed move. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool goalkeeper Caoimhin Kelleher has reportedly attracted interest from Chelsea and Newcastle United ahead of the summer transfer window. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk The pick of Tuesday's Champions League playoff first-leg matches undoubtedly comes from the Etihad, where 2022-23 winners Manchester City and current holders Real Madrid square off in a clash of the titans. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester United are reportedly prepared to let Casemiro leave on loan to Flamengo before the end of the month. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Stars of the FA Cup fourth round Plymouth Argyle have been rewarded for their stunning win over Liverpool by being drawn against Manchester City. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Plymouth Argyle have been handed another mammoth task in the FA Cup fifth round having been drawn against Manchester City. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Benfica travel to the Stade Louis II for the second time this season to face Monaco in the Champions League knockout round playoffs on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Liverpool go to Goodison Park for a Merseyside derby against Everton for the final time on Wednesday night in the 245th iteration of the fixture. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Manchester City's "best chance" of quelling the "almighty threat" of Real Madrid in the Champions League could be to select almost the same defence that excelled during their treble-winning season, Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 10 February 2025 talksport.com Manchester City host Real Madrid this Tuesday night in the first leg of their Champions League play-off blockbuster. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Abdukodir Khusanov performed well in Man City's FA Cup win over Leyton Orient and there were signs to suggest that he has the potential to develop into a "special player", Citizens expert Steven McInerney from Esteemed Kompany has told Sports Mole. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic manager Brendan Rodgers will ring the changes again when they welcome Bayern Munich to Glasgow in the Champions League on Wednesday. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Bayern Munich could be largely unchanged from the team that beat Werder Bremen when they go to Celtic in the Champions League on Wednesday night. 10 February 2025 sportsmole.co.uk Celtic will play their first Champions League knockout match for 12 years when they welcome German giants Bayern Munich to Glasgow on Wednesday night.