Raheem Sterling vowed to prioritise playing time when last linked with a move to Arsenal when his Manchester City days were numbered.

 

And he's in the same boat once again as he looks to leave Chelsea. When it became apparent the Englishman was fading into the background of Pep Guardiola's City project, Sterling dictated that playing weekly is non-negotiable and signed up to be a part of Todd Boehly's Blues project.

Arsenal icon Ian Wright stated at the time that Sterling must move to secure his spot in England's squad, and the 29-year-old seemingly agreed. Wright's Gunners were in contention to sign Sterling when he was on the move away from City, and with his future clearly not at Chelsea—after losing his squad number and first-team place—the north London could yet emerge as potential suitors once again before Friday's deadline.

Wright and Sterling saw eye-to-eye the last time he was linked with an Emirates move, and the outcast winger must again prioritise his playing time.

Unlike his departure from the Etihad, Sterling's Chelsea bridges have been set ablaze this summer, with Enzo Maresca's ousting of the forward from his first matchday squad the ignition.

This snub in Chelsea's Premier League opener against City came as a shock, considering Sterling played a prominent role in the pre-season. His representatives chose to release a statement in which the winger's disappointment was shared and an inquest was promised.

New boss Maresca was then implored to state in a press conference that he 'prefers other types of wingers' and that Sterling is training apart from the rest of the first team, all but signalling he will leave this summer.

Similarly to when Sterling fell out of favour in Manchester, there are a range of clubs reportedly after his signature, namely Aston Villa, Newcastle, and Juventus.

"If there was the opportunity to go somewhere else for more game time, I would be open to it," Sterling said in 2021, when the cracks began to appear in his City career.

"As I said, football is the most important thing to me. I have set challenges from a young age and dreams as well. As an English player, all I know is the Premier League, and I’ve always thought, you know, maybe one day I’d love to play abroad. See how I would come up against that challenge.

"I’m not a person that’s going to complain. I’ve not tried to make it a bigger deal than it actually is. I get on with my work. Do what I need to do. And I’m just raring to go. Playing football matches regularly. Score goals regularly."

The winger's declaration followed Wright's warning, as he stated on ITV in 2021: "Whatever’s going on with City, at some stage, you look at the importance of Raheem Sterling.

"You’re looking at a player who is easily one of our [England's] most potent players who isn’t playing at his club; at some stage he’s going to have to sort it out.

"From a personal view, whatever is going on with him and the manager, I think it was after a game he went and had a word with him but since then been out of it. At some stage something has to happen where he plays more regularly."

While a move abroad could be an option during this saga, Wright's statement rings true regardless. Sterling needs to find somewhere he'll play or risk being ousted from the England setup completely—especially after missing out on Gareth Southgate's Euro 2024 squad.

Whether that place is the Emirates, as was rumoured two years ago, remains to be seen. But playing time would be harder to come by at Arsenal due to the competition for place in attack, as opposed to some other options that could come his way this week.