Sterling never considered joining Arsenal

Manchester City winger Raheem Sterling has admitted that he didn’t even consider a move to Arsenal in the summer, the Independent reports.

The England international was heavily linked with a move to the Emirates, with reports suggesting that the Gunners were to demand Sterling in any deal for Alexis Sanchez.

I didn’t need to speak to Guardiola because I already spoke to him in the summer about pre-season. I didn’t have any negative thoughts or anything about it, I just woke up one day with England and didn’t believe a word of it, and I wouldn’t have until I spoke to the manager.

Manchester City lined up Sanchez for a move but their pursuit fell through on the final day of the transfer window as Arsenal failed to land Thomas Lemar from Monaco.

It wasn’t something that I was worried about because Pep is an honest guy and he would’ve spoken to me before that [if City wanted to sell me], so I didn’t need to worry about it and I didn’t think about it for one minute.

Sterling has been in superb form for City this season, and has improved massively under the watchful eye of Pep Guardiola.

I signed for five years. I have two and a half years left and I see myself here, playing football here under a great manager and with a great team, so of course [I want to stay].

The former Barcelona boss evidently regards Sterling as a key part of his plans moving forward, and this has been shown by the winger’s involvement in City’s stellar start to the Premier League campaign.

It’s a massive year for me, massive year for the team, I just need to keep building, keep working hard and go to the World Cup on a positive.

Arsenal are currently sat in 6th place on the Premier League table, nine points adrift of league leaders City.