Arsenal confirm Raheem Sterling shirt number after Chelsea loan transfer

Arsenal have confirmed Raheem Sterling's shirt number following the winger's loan arrival from Chelsea on transfer deadline day.

The former Manchester City and Liverpool attacker was brutally banished from the Blues' ranks under Enzo Maresca, sharing the same fate as the likes of Conor Gallagher, Trevoh Chalobah and Ben Chilwell.

Sterling's prospects heading into transfer deadline day looked bleak, as talk of the 29-year-old being part of a sensational swap deal with Jadon Sancho did not lead to anything, even though the latter did join the Blues from Manchester United.

However, Arsenal boss Mikel Arteta - who worked with Sterling at Manchester City - extended an olive branch to his former attacking colleague, who immediately said yes to a temporary switch to the Emirates.

The Gunners managed to submit a deal sheet before the 11pm transfer deadline on August 30, and they confirmed Sterling's arrival on a straight loan in the early hours of Sunday morning following his successful medical.

Raheem Sterling to wear number 30 at Arsenal

— Arsenal (@Arsenal) September 3, 2024

Sterling spent last season as Chelsea's number seven, a number he frequently donned during his time at Man City, but the 29-year-old was never going to take that jersey off of Bukayo Saka at Arsenal.

Instead, the Blues loanee will be Arsenal's number 30 for the coming season and instantly becomes the most high-profile player to sport that shirt at the Emirates, where it does not have a rich history.

The last man to don that shirt for Arsenal was American goalkeeper Matt Turner, who was Arteta's number 30 - and number two in goal - for one season before joining Nottingham Forest.

Prior to Turner's arrival, Eddie Nketiah sported that shirt for three seasons before moving to the iconic number 14, while several other players who failed to hit the heights at Arsenal also wore the 30.

Indeed, Ainsley Maitland-Niles, Armand Traore, Chu-young Park, Ryo Miyaichi and Jeremie Aliadiere were previous occupants of the 30 at Arsenal, as was Yossi Benayoun, who was also a Chelsea loanee in 2011-12.

When could Sterling make his Arsenal debut?

© Reuters

Having only arrived in the eleventh hour of the summer window, Sterling was not eligible to play in last weekend's 1-1 draw with Brighton & Hove Albion, although he was in the stands at the Emirates watching on.

The England international - who was not called up to September's Three Lions squad - is instead set for a baptism of fire, as his debut could come against Tottenham Hotspur in the North London derby on September 15.

Sterling had a direct hand in 18 goals in 43 matches during the 2023-24 campaign, 10 of his own and six assists, scoring eight times and setting up four more goals in the Premier League alone.

However, Arsenal will be without fellow summer arrival Mikel Merino for the trip to Tottenham, as the Spain international suffered a freak shoulder injury in training that could reportedly sideline him for almost two months.

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