The Gunners left it late to snap up Sterling from their London rivals but their decision to bring him on loan, with no option or obligation to buy, could prove to be a masterstroke if the England international finds his form. He is seen as a strategic addition to Mikel Arteta's squad, providing much-needed depth and experience, particularly in attacking positions as Arsenal are set to fight for silverware on multiple fronts.

The Gunners will pay only a fraction of Sterling’s wages during his loan spell, with Chelsea continuing to shoulder the majority of his salary. According to The Athletic, they are going to bear "significantly less than half" of his salary which could be between £300,000 and £350,000 ($394,000-$460,000) per week.

Match of the Day pundit Danny Murphy in his column for The Daily Mail, has expressed high hopes for Sterling's impact at Arsenal.

"Arsenal signing Raheem Sterling is an incredible piece of business," he wrote. "He’s a winner, a four-time league champion. He isn’t going to be phased by the size of the club and the level of expectancy from the fan base.

"The more players you have in the dressing room that have won trophies, the more it rubs off on those around you. It’s about showing a mentality and calmness in decisive moments and Raheem was a huge part of that at Manchester City."