Arsenal have been busy on transfer deadline day, working to secure the signing of a new goalkeeper following Aaron Ramsdale's exit.
He joined Southampton on a permanent deal which has forced the Gunners into acquiring a replacement.
Espanyol's Joan Garcia looked like one option but he proved too expensive so Edu and Co have looked to bring in Bournemouth goalkeeper Neto on loan instead.
That deal is now done but official confirmation from the Gunners is yet to emerge.
That said, he's not the only deadline day signing on the cards with a forward player potentially set to arrive before 11pm.
Arsenal looking to sign Premier League forward
Arsenal are in talks to sign Raheem Sterling in a last-minute deal according to the Athletic's David Ornstein.
The winger is available after being alienated by new Chelsea boss Enzo Maresca following the player's omission from the squad during their opening weekend defeat to Manchester City.
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Rumours had been rife surrounding the player's future on transfer deadline with a will he won't he saga emerging.
Arsenal had been reported to be the player's favourite destination if a move could be agreed after a phone call with Mikel Arteta and now it appears a move is well and truly on the cards.
Should a deal be struck then it looks like Arsenal could sign a similar player to Gabriel Martinelli.
How Sterling compares to Gabriel Martinelli
According to FBRef's statistics for the 2023/24 season, Arsenal's Brazilian superstar was the fourth-most similar player in the Premier League to Sterling.
Why? Well, both tricky wingers who largely play down the left, they possess similar qualities that help make themselves a total nightmare for the opposition when en-song.
Here's a breakdown of the numbers between the two for last season which showcases a number of similarities.
Goals
0.36
0.27
Assists
0.18
0.18
Expected goals (xG)
0.30
0.30
Shot-creating actions
3.86
4.11
Progressive passes
3.55
2.90
Successful take-ons
2.05
1.79
Progressive carries
5.45
5.67
As we can see from the data above, they're particularly alike in a host of important areas for a wide player, most specifically progressive passing, dribbling and carrying.
For progressive carries, in particular, they are almost identical, with Arteta now potentially set to be able to call upon another electric dribbler in the form of Martinelli.
A carry is considered progressive if the ball is moved towards the opponent's goal at least 10 yards from its starting point or is carried into the penalty area.
The Brazilian has been off the boil of late, scoring just one league goal since the beginning of March. That form, and the sheer number of minutes that Bukayo Saka played in 2023/24, meant that signing another body in the final third of the pitch was particularly vital.
Sterling, certainly at the 11th hour, isn't a bad option indeed, even if he wasn't their first choice.
Some may complain about his lack of form at Stamford Bridge but this is a player Arteta knows and he represents a brilliant late market opportunity. This one is unexpected but certainly needed for Arsenal.
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